The Judges

Chef of the Future

Sponsored by: Havering College of Further and Higher Education

Premier Judge: Paul Gayler

Paul Gayler began his cooking career at the tender age of 12 while assisting his mother with their family owned outside catering business. At the age of 16 he attended a local catering school where he passed with honours. He later honed his career working in some of Britain's finest restaurants and hotels, as well as a short period in France. He was later offered the position of head chef at Inigo Jones, one of London's finest and most exclusive restaurants where he gained an enviable reputation for the food and as a pioneer of "Vegetarian Haute Cuisine". Frustrated by the lack of imagination shown by many chefs in the preparation of vegetable and vegetarian dishes he introduced "Menu Potager", a seven course gourmet vegetarian menu.

In 1991, Paul was invited to head up the team of the newly opened Lanesborough on Hyde Park in the heart of London. The Lanesborough, a then rosewood property, its first in Europe, which has now become a member of the prestigious St Regis Group, has become in a short space of time one of the most exclusive and sought after hotels in the world. Paul has written and had published 18 cook books, some of which have won international awards.

Paul travels the world demonstrating at culinary exhibitions and as a judge of professional cookery competitions. Further details of Paul's career can be found on his website: www.paulgayler.com.

Judge: Nick Gunyon

Nick started work in restaurants at the age of fifteen, his professional career highlights include executive Head Chef positions at British Airways and various large banks within the city of London. Involving cooking for high level directors and staff, also world leaders and royalty.

Nick has also run his own catering business for four years, and helped with Olympic food competitions and has been involved in the judging of the national Young Chef of the year in 2000. He also helps judge The Havering Schools Young Chef of the Year which is organised by Havering College. Nick is now a lecturer in Culinary Arts at Havering College.

Last year two of his students won medals under his guidance. He looks for imaginative use of ingredients with clean sharp tastes that do not over complicate the palate.

Judge: Mark Smithers

Mark trained at the renowned Westminster College alongside Jamie Oliver achieving the coveted Professional Chef Diploma. He then honed his professional culinary skills in the exclusive gentlemen's clubs of Piccadilly London. He was nominated for the Craft Guild of Chefs young chef of the year in 1995.

He holds a first class honours degree in Hospitality Management and is currently in the final year of his M.A. Mark is now involved in education and runs a large area of learning including Hospitality at Havering College of Further and Higher Education.