One of the North East’s most prestigious cook-offs has been won by Richard Wheatley, a young chef at Cafe 21, Newcastle.
Richard, 23, competed against six other chefs in the Chef of the Year competition run by the North East Culinary Trade Association.
During the regional competition, Richard turned up the heat in the purpose-built kitchen cooking a three course meal for four people while watched over by rows of eager food fans and judges including celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala.
