Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fife chef cooks up a treat as he makes quarter-final
FIFE chef Chris Niven is one of two Scottish chefs to reach the quarterfinals of a prestigious Chef of the Year competition.
Following his appearance on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2017, Chris went on to work in some of Fife’s best kitchens, including the Fairmont in St Andrews and, most recently, The Adamson, also in the university town.
But these past few weeks, he has been working hard after reaching the latter stages of new food and drink hub Tasting Spoon’s inaugural Chef of the Year competition.
The entrants have been whittled down from 380 applicants, to a shortlist of 12, then a quarter-final of only four.
His competitors are Michael McCavana, head chef at Belfast’s Fish City, Guernsey chef Patricio Filipe, and Scott Smith, head chef at Sugar Boat in Helensburgh.
Speaking about being one of two Scots to reach this stage, Chris said it was good to be representing the nation, after he applied to take part while on furlough.
He said: “It feels good. The fact that it’s the whole of Britain as well that’s competing makes it even better.
“To get down to the final four for the Chef of the Year is really quite exciting.
“It’s good to also be representing Scotland in that way, especially when you’re competing against a lot of talented people who also entered the competition.
“I was on furlough at the time I applied and was sort of looking around at what was happening. It was just to keep myself creative and busy at home so I wasn’t just sitting doing nothing.”
Chris and his fellow competitors are only a few weeks away from competing in an on-the-spot cook off for their next challenge.
“We’ll be sent a mystery box of ingredients and I have to film it start to finish – from receiving the box, to opening it. We need to start filming as soon as we open the box and cook straight away.
“We have to come up with a dish there and then, cook it and then present it. There isn’t to be any editing or anything like that. We’re only able to use the products that are in the box as well.”