A Totnes chef is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his mentor as he competes for one of the South West’s leading culinary awards.

Ben Greenhalf, a chef de partie at Gather, is a finalist in the Young Professional Chef category of South West Chef of the Year 2026, having won Best Menu at last year’s competition.

The contest, founded by acclaimed chef Michael Caines MBE DL, will reach its conclusion on Tuesday, October 27, with finalists competing at Exeter College before the winners are announced at an awards dinner at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

Ben works alongside Harrison Brockington, Gather’s chef and owner, who won the overall South West Chef of the Year title in 2024 and the Student/Apprentice Chef category in 2016.

With ambitions of establishing himself among the region’s leading chefs, Ben will be competing against four other young professionals from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, as well as Bath.

The category includes Jacob Ashburton-Dunning, a chef de partie at Gidleigh Park in Devon; Charlie Bowie, a commis chef at The Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth; Bethany Martin, a junior sous chef at Lucknam Park in Bath; and Finlay Maxworthy, a demi chef de partie at The Royal Crescent Hotel, also in Bath.

The finalists will be judged alongside competitors in the Professional Chef, Student/Apprentice Chef and Home Cook categories.

The junior title has already been awarded to 15-year-old Hesali Galuge, from Penair Secondary School in Truro, who won the competition on October 10.

Michael Caines, the competition’s co-founder and head judge, said the standard had been so high that judges had selected five finalists rather than the usual four in two categories.

The awards dinner will feature a four-course menu prepared by leading chefs from across the region, including Harrison Brockington, previous winners and competition judges.

The event will celebrate the region’s culinary talent and announce the winners across the remaining categories.

Further information and tickets are available at www.southwestchef.co.uk.