Wing Yip winners

L-R: Joshua Anderson, Robert Hall, Princia Fernandes

Wholesaler Wing Yip has crowned Robert Hall, a 24-year-old cook from Essex, ‘Chef of the Year 2014’ after he battled against 15 finalists in a Masterchef-style cook-off at University College Birmingham.

His dish of skirt steak sui with pistachio puree, pickled mushrooms, cauliflower and radish impressed the judges, who included TV chef Ching He Huang, Michelin-starred Birmingham chef Glynn Purnell, and president of the British Culinary Federation, Peter Griffiths.

Hall will now be accompanied by Wing Yip on a trip to Hong Kong where he will gain an insight into the hospitality industry at Michelin-starred restaurants.

It is the second year Wing Yip has run its Young Chef of The Year competition, celebrating oriental cuisine and culinary skill in the UK.

Previous winner Joseph Vinten received two London job offers after making the Hong Kong trip, and is now working as a chef in the US.

“This competition really is a celebration of both quality oriental cuisine and the creative flair we have coming through in the UK,” said chairman Wing Yip. “These are the chefs to watch out for in the future.”