THE sous chef at a West Devon hotel has been named Cornwall's Next Head Chef in the 2014 finals of the region's most respected culinary competition.

Twenty-nine-year-old Davin Browning has been sous chef at the Moorland Garden Hotel near Yelverton for a year, and was pleased to be successful in the competition.

Designed to recognise the stars of the future and help propel them to the next level of their cooking career, the competition saw participants from across the county compete in two knock-out rounds. For the third round at Penwith College, the final four aspiring chefs took part in a three-course cook-off, with five hours to prepare, cook and serve the judges with the best menu possible.

Davin impressed the panel with a shitake mushroom consommé starter, surf and turf belly pork and scallop main and dessert of lemon tart and raspberry sorbet.

He was also applauded for other elements during the final heat, including how well he managed a commis chef and met the £15 budget. Davin also won £400 worth of Mac Knives, a night for two at the Old Custom House in Padstow and a case of St Austell Beers as well as the title.

Ben Stevens, business development manager of Delicate Trade and organiser of the event, said: 'The level achieved by this year's competitors has been incredible.

'It was such a tough choice for the judges as every one of our finalists produced at least one standout dish.

Davin said: 'It's been a really tough challenge with some fierce competition but I've absolutely loved taking part. I'm thrilled to bits to have won the title.

'I love my job and this is going to give me a real boost in taking my skills to the next level.'