The finalists for the National and Junior Chef of Wales competitions, the country's two most prestigious culinary competitions, have finally been announced.

Among the Junior Chef of Wales contestants is Falon Bailie, a junior sous chef at Foyles Restaurant in Glasbury.

Falon will be competing against, Katie Duffy, a second chef from Llanelli, Oliver Herrington, a demi chef de partie at Celtic Manor Resort, and Abigail Williams, a student at College y Cymoedd's Nantgarw Campus.

The finals of both competitions, organised by The Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), will be held at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) from February 21-23, 2023 at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in Rhos-on-Sea.

The awards dinner will be held on the evening of February 23 at The Imperial Hotel, Llandudno.

The finalists will cook their own creative menu for a three-course dinner for four people within three hours, again using mostly Welsh ingredients. Their starter must be a seafood/fish appetiser, main course must use one prime cut and one secondary cut of PGI Welsh Beef and dessert must be seasonal, feature one hot element and include chocolate.

The Junior Chef of Wales winner will have a chance of a lifetime to attend the Worldchefs Congress 2024 in Singapore with CAW delegates.

He or she will also qualify for the semi-finals of the Young National Chef of the Year contest, organised by the Craft Guild of Chefs and receive support from the Junior Culinary Team Wales, a set of engraved knives from Friedr Dick and products worth £100 from Churchill.

The WICC’s main sponsor is Food and Drink Wales, the Welsh Government’s department representing the food and drink industry. Other sponsors include Castel Howell, Churchill, Major International, Riso Gallo, Dick Knives, MCS Tech Products, Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, CAW president, said: “We are delighted with the high calibre of entries in both competitions and can’t wait to see these talented chefs in action in the finalists.

“The finals provide a fantastic platform to showcase their skills in Wales’ premier competitions for chefs.”