FORMER BCoT catering student Stephen Naylor has won The Sun Inn MasterChef Competition.

The 19-year-old from Bramley, who has just completed his City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery, beat three other students in the competition.  

They took part in an initial skills test, turning their hand to filleting a fish and making a simple pesto.

Round one was whittled down to Stephen and Kennedy Abbot, 19, from Basingstoke.

Gordon Stott, head chef and landlord at The Sun Inn, in Dummer, gave each contestant a budget of £50 to create a two-course meal for 20 VIPs, served in The Restaurant at BCOT.

Guests were given a guide price of £20 and asked to donate what they felt the meal was worth.

All proceeds went to Hampshire charity, the Society of St James, to support local initiatives for the homeless.

Diners, including BCoT's principal, Anthony Bravo, and supporters of the charity, were impressed with both menus, donating a total of £510.

But it was down to Gordon to deal with the difficult decision of choosing the winner.

He picked Stephen’s starter of mackerel, beetroot, and apple, followed by lamb, consommé, pomme purée, roasted veg, and shallot jus, which narrowly beat Kennedy’s English asparagus, quail eggs, parmesan, and main dish of pork, black pudding and apple.

Gordon presented Stephen with a certificate, a top of the range chef’s knife set, and a meal for two at the Michelin-starred L’Ortolan restaurant, in Shinfield, near Reading.

Gordon said: “To coin a classic MasterChef phrase - I deliberated, cogitated and digested, and finally chose Stephen. His mackerel dish, in particular, was a triumph, and I’d happily include this on my menu at The Sun Inn.

“The standard was extremely high, and all the students involved should be proud of what they have achieved. Overall the competition was a huge success, and we’re already planning what challenges we’ll be throwing at next years’ students hoping to be crowned MasterChef 2016.”

Stephen who has just left college securing a kitchen position at Marwell Hotel, near Winchester.

Delighted with the award, Stephen said: “I think this proves that the three years I’ve put into study in catering at BCOT has been well spent.

"Taking part in the competition was very enjoyable and it was nice to express my own style of food.”