This year's National Restaurant Awards Chef Of The Year shortlist has been unveiled with the six chefs vying for the prestigious title named ahead of the full announcement on 12th June.
The six chefs who made the shortlist are:
Chantelle Nicholson - Apricity
Former Tredwell's chef patron Chantelle Nicholson is a fan favourite here at thefoodpeople, having spoken at the Online Food & Beverage Trend Summit back in 2020 as well as being an active backer of campaigns delivered by The TFP Foundation charity partner Chefs In Schools. Her latest restaurant, Apricity, follows in the footsteps of the popular Tredwell's venue with a focus on sustainability and low waste, championing local and British produce.
Jeremy Chan - Ikoyi
Another former tfp event guest, having spoken at our 2018 Culinary Congress, Jeremy Chan is the co-founder of London's two Michelin starred Ikoyi, featuring a menu built around the vast collection of spices with a focus on sub-Saharan West Africa. Ikoyi burst onto the global scene in 2022 featuring on the 2022 list of the World's 50 Best Restuarants in 49th place.
Kenny Atkinson - House of Tides & Solstice
A professional chef for over twenty nine years, Kenny Atkinson is Chef Patron of the Newcastle upon Tyne
one Michelin-starred restaurant House of Tides, as well as the recently awarded one Michelin star restaurant Solstice, also based in Newcastle upon Tyne, which only opened back in the summer of 2022 - making him one of the most exciting chefs on the scene right now.
Alex Dilling - Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal
London-born chef Alex Dilling opened his self-titled restaurant at the capital's well-known Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street in 2022 before quickly receiving two Michelin stars in 2023, boasting an intimate dining experience. Dilling's culinary journey began under the legacy of Alain Ducasse at Adour in New York before eventually cementing his name with his food at London's The Greenhouse, a two Michelin starred fine dining experience that attracts an international crowd keen to experience its luxurious menus.
Pip Lacey - Hicce
A relative latecomer to the industry, having donned her first chefs whites at the age of 27, Pip Lacey fast developed an envious portfolio of experience working in the kitchens of both Gordon Ramsay and Clare Smyth, before heading up the Michelin starred Murano. More recently, Lacey runs her own venues - Hicce at Kings Cross with its focus on wood-fired cuisine, and popular Islington pub Hicce Hart.
Adam Handling - The Frog & The Loch & The Tyne
The recently crowned Great British Menu Champion of Champions 2023, exciting chef-patron of Covent Garden's The Frog, Adam Handling, rounds out the shortlist this year. The Frog is Handling's flagship restaurant, alongside his The Loch & The Tyne pub in Windsor which was named highest new entry in the 2022 Top 50 Gastropubs list at number 32.
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Last year's winner was three Michelin star restaurant L'Enclume's Simon Rogan. His Cumbrian restaurant is the first in the UK and Ireland to have been awarded three stars serving a menu that does not have its roots in French cooking. The Southampton-born chef has had a far-reaching influence on the UK's restaurant scene with his naturalistic cooking and plating style.