A TALENTED young chef has earned a crown and the right to share a stage with a top restaurateur.

Amelia Ng, from Basingstoke, has been crowned this year’s Wing Yip Young Chef of the Year 2019, emerging on top in a cook-off which took place at University College Birmingham (UCB) last Thursday.

As part of the prize, the Manor House Hotel, Chippenham, chef will now share a stage with well-known chef and restaurateur, Larkin Cen, at his award-winning Asian restaurant in Bristol, Woky Ko, as well earning £750 in cash.

Amelia battled it out against 14 other chefs judged by an expert panel – president of the British Culinary Federation Peter Griffiths MBE, Michelin starred Chef Glynn Purnell and Mr Cen.

Amelia said: “I cannot believe that I’ve won the competition.

“It’s been such an amazing experience and I feel extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to meet the judges, learn from my peers and now I get to work alongside Larkin in the kitchen. I’m really looking forward to learning some new skills.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable experience.”

This year, competitors were required to create a traditional street-food dish and a main course of their choice served in a bowl.

Amelia served a starter dish of black sesame bao bun with crispy challons duck and spiced plum and a main of huntsham farm pork and prawn wontons served with egg noodles, lotus root, pak choi, chinese leaf, pork and shitake broth.

Amelia was commended for her execution of the selected dishes.

Wing Yip, a Chinese supermarket chain, director Ennevor Yap, said: “Huge congratulations to Amelia.

“She is a thoroughly worthy winner and impressed the judges with her ability to showcase unique flavour and authentic culinary technique.

“It’s a great achievement to be in the final and we’re delighted for Amelia, thoroughly well deserved.”

Mr Griffiths added: “Culinary competitions are so important to our industry and they help to build up the experience of budding chefs everywhere no matter what stage in their career or studies.”