Chef Tim Zekki, of Duende Restaurant in Wiveliscombe, is in the running to take the most sought-after title in the British culinary scene.

He has reached the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year competition after creating a three-course menu which impressed Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth, who leads the judging panel.

The chef patron at Duende Restaurant is one of just 33 chefs still in the running to take the chef of the year title.

To make the semi-final shortlist, Tim was asked to create a menu telling his story of the pandemic through food. Menus had to include a vegetarian starter incorporating ingredients on the KNORR® Future 50 Foods list.

These ingredients have been identified with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as having a positive impact on the environment by improving the diversity of the crops people consume as well as having excellent nutritional credentials.

The main course focused on supporting British suppliers on land and at sea with a dish incorporating meat and fish.

The National Chef of the Year competition was launched in 1972 and previous winners include Gordon Ramsay.

The event provides chefs with an opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight and show their culinary talent to the wider hospitality industry. It has put industry names up in lights, boosted careers and given chefs the chance to follow their dreams.

To get to the final, Tim has created a small signature dish of his choice. The semi-finalists have been asked to sum up their pandemic year of 2020-21 in just two to three bites.

Judges will be looking for a dish which reflects each chef’s personality and tells a story. Dishes may be a personal or family memory or a reflection of the wider industry which has had an impact on an individual.

It could explore a style of cuisine, a nostalgic dish, a recipe that reflects heritage or the use of hero ingredients a chef is passionate about.

The top ten chefs will be revealed live on the Craft Guild of Chefs Instagram channel by chairman judges Paul Ainsworth and organiser of the competition David Mulcahy on Thursday (August 12).

* Tim is still producing takeaway only from his restaurant in Wiveliscombe due to Covid social distancing restrictions.