Chef Bradley is Spanish finalist

4:30pm Monday 1st December 2008

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A trainee chef was pipped to the post in a national competition to win a work placement at the world’s top restaurant.

Oxford and Cherwell College student Bradley Holland, 17, made it to the final seven in the Spanish Young Chef of the Year 2008 contest. He travelled to Westminster College, London, for a competition run by the Spanish Embassy and Foods from Spain, for trainee chefs aged 17-23.

Bradley served a starter of potato, olive and chorizo terrine, with madeira reduction, persimmon puree and bacon foam, and a main course of pigeon wrapped in Serrano ham, with confit leg, creamed mushrooms and a cherry and date sauce. His dessert was a crema Catalana, marinated strawberries and strawberry wafers.

The judges praised the menu as imaginative and tipped him to be a strong contender in future.

The first prize of work experience in El Bulli, rated the world’s best restaurant four times, was won by a 21-year-old student from Westminster College.