Sussex culinary prodigy Jonny Smith of Gravetye Manor wows judges with Norwegian halibut dish and is crowned Young National Chef of the Year

The UK’s culinary scene has a new shining star, and his name is Jonny Smith.

In an impressive achievement, Jonny Smith, Sous Chef at Gravetye Manor in Sussex, has been awarded the prestigious title of Young National Chef of the Year 2024 (YNCOTY) by the Craft Guild of Chefs, proudly co-sponsored by Seafood from Norway, represented by the Norwegian Seafood Council. Showcasing his culinary expertise and seafood cooking repertoire, Jonny secured the top spot at the highly competitive final cook-off on 8th October. This triumph follows his third-place finish in last year’s YNCOTY competition.

Taking the runner-up spot was Rosie Welch from L’Enclume, with Keira Carolan from Henrock coming in third place.

The YNCOTY competition, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs, stands out among young chef contests, bringing together the most talented and promising chefs in the industry to compete for a title that can shape their professional futures for years to come.

Jonny’s winning menu included a first course of golden cross goats' cheese agnolotti with Gravetye tomatoes and basil, a main dish of Norwegian halibut with shiitake and cauliflower, and a dessert of choux bun, whipped Opalys ganache, and honey-poached quince.

As the winner of YNCOTY, Jonny is set to enjoy an educational culinary trip of a lifetime, hosted by Seafood from Norway where he will experience first-hand Norway’s rich fishing tradition as well as its leading practices in responsible seafood sourcing.

Speaking about his win, Jonny said: “Coming in third place last year gave me more motivation to really push myself this year. This experience has been a highlight of my career, and I’m so grateful to everyone involved in making this a reality. Alongside the skills I’ve learned and the connections I’ve made through this competition, getting the opportunity to learn more about responsibly sourced seafood has been amazing, and I can’t wait to visit Norway to deepen my knowledge in this area.”

Victoria Braathen, UK Director for the Norwegian Seafood Council, congratulated the winner, stating: “We congratulate Jonny on his remarkable achievement in winning the Craft Guild of Chefs’ Young National Chef of the Year competition. This milestone will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in his career. As part of our commitment to supporting and educating up-and-coming talent in the UK, we’re delighted to be involved with YNCOTY, inspiring the next generation of chefs to explore the use of Norwegian seafood in contemporary cuisine. We can’t wait for Jonny’s visit to Norway, where he’ll gain deeper insight into our seafood heritage and experience first-hand the importance of responsibly sourced ingredients.”

More information about sustainably caught seafood from Norway can be found at www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk.