The finalists for competitions to find the island’s best chefs have been announced.

The government’s Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture runs the contests for chef of the year and student chef of the year.

The two competitions were established in 2008 along with the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival as part of DEFA’s policy to expand the contribution of food and drink to the economy.

Ten years on, only previous winners were invited to compete in the chef of the year category this year.

Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Geoffrey Boot MHK said: ’The competition continues to raise the profile of the skill and talent of the island’s chefs as well as the quality and variety of Isle of Man produce.

’The 2018 Chef of the Year will have the remarkable opportunity of placements in a number of top London restaurants, kindly organised by award winning and internationally renowned Manx-born chef Colin Clague, who will be on the judging panel for the finals.’

Four chefs and five student chefs competed for a place in the finals.

Darren Woods from 14North and Zaneta Krol from Howarths were selected by the judges to compete for the chef of the year title.

Darren cooked Manx crab, courgette flowers and yoghurt ricotta, while Zaneta gave her Manx interpretation of an Eton mess.

Louise Thomas and Charles Hudson made it through to the final for student chef of the year.

Louise, an NVQ level 1 student, cooked locally-caught sea bass/callag and Charles, an NVQ level 3 student, cooked spring cherrie.

Both students are studying at University College Isle of Man (UCM), which teaches hospitality and catering.

Chris Franklin, head training chef at UCM, said: ’The competition gives students the opportunity to create their own dishes and recipes using Manx ingedients and cook them in front of an audience and against the clock. It’s great experience for them as they embark on their careers.’

Well-known local chef Tony Quirk said he and his fellow judges - Janna Horsthuis and Paul Caisley from sponsor Robinson’s, and Audrey Fowler, marketing officer at the DEFA found it extremely difficult to select finalists, such was the quality of entries.

’All the dishes were exceptional,’ Tony said. ’The content and presentation were top class and, in terms of taste, the dishes were to a really high standard.

’All the chefs should be proud of themselves.’

The finals will take place at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival in the Villa Marina gardens in Douglas on September 15 and 16.

Finalists will have their dishes judged by Minister Geoffrey Boot MHK, Paul Caisley from Robinson’s, and chef Colin Clague.