A YOUNG chef from Carno is confident he can cook up a storm at the Junior Chef of Wales contest later this month.

James Corbett, 20, who is a commis chef at Llangoed Hotel, Llyswen, near Brecon, will be up against three other chefs at the final of the Welsh International Culinary Champions at Coleg Llandrillo, Rhos-on-Sea on Monday, 15 February.

James will be making his debut in the competition and is looking forward to the challenge.

He said: “This is a great opportunity to boost my career and I am very confident with the menu I have chosen for the final,” he said.

“The dishes that I’m cooking are very similar to those that we do in work, so I have cooked them many times.”

In a previous cook and serve competition while a student at NPTC Group’s Newtown Campus, he won a gold medal as part of a team.

The four will be given three hours to cook a three-course meal for four people for a stellar panel of judges, which includes Michelin star chefs

Hywel Jones, Will Holland and Shaun Hill, and John Retallick, Culinary Association of Wales secretary.

The winner will qualify for the UK semi-finals of the National Junior Chef of the Year contest, spend a week with head chef Gareth Ward at the Michelin starred Ynyshir Hall, near Machynlleth and receive a set of knives from Dick Knives.

Organised by the Culinary Association of Wales, the WICC has Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government’s department representing the food and drink industry, as its main sponsor.