Rhayader’s own Gabi Wilson is among four young chefs hoping to take the crown of Junior Chef of Wales this afternoon at ICC Wales, Newport.

Gabi, who works at the acclaimed Chapters restaurant in Hay-on-Wye, is no stranger to the national culinary spotlight. She was the first winner of the Green Chef Challenge at the Welsh International Culinary Championships in 2024 and represented Team UK at EuroSkills Herning last September.

The Junior Chef of Wales final - widely regarded as the country’s premier competition for young culinary talent - sees contestants tasked with creating a three-course dinner for four, all in just three hours. Each menu must showcase at least eight Welsh products of Geographical Importance (GI). The starter must feature sustainable Welsh fish or seafood, the main course requires two different cuts of GI Welsh beef, and the dessert must include seasonal fruit, chocolate, and a biscuit or tuille.

Gabi will compete against Katie Duffy, chef at The Halfway, Llanelli; Caitlin Meredith from Moriah near Aberystwyth, currently at Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms; and Sonny Page from Menai Bridge, who works with Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay.

The stakes are high. The winner will secure a place in the UK Young National Chef of the Year semi-finals, a fully funded delegate package for the Young Chefs Programme at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in May, £150 of culinary products from DPS Tableware, and a set of engraved cook’s knives from Friedr Dick.

The final kicks off at midday, and local supporters will be hoping Gabi can add the Junior Chef of Wales title to her growing list of accolades.

Tomorrow, eight chefs will compete for the National Chef of Wales title.

The main sponsor for this year’s National and Junior Chef of Wales competitions is Castell Howell Foods. The other sponsors are Cambrian Training Company, Capital Cuisine, Roller Grill, MCS Tek, Friedr Dick Knives, DPS Tableware and Hybu Cig Cymru.