North Herts College student from Hitchin wins prestigious young chefs honour - as Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2023 competition winner is announced

Emily Simkins, aged 19 from Hitchin, has been named as the winner of the Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year Competition 2023.

Emily will now receive an all expenses paid four day work experience with renowned chef Fabio Pisani and Alessandro Negrini and their team at the 2 Michelin starred Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia in Milan, and will visit the famous rice mill of Riso Gallo.

Italian Ambassador Inigo Lambertini presents Emily Simkins form Hitchin with her trophy. CREDIT: Panache PR

Emily said: "Wow. What an experience. I have loved every second of doing the Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of the Year Competition.

"Waiting for the results was the nerve racking moment - to discover I won - I was in so much shock and disbelief.

"I was so incredibly happy. I was so lucky to make it to the final of the Young Risotto Chef Competition and to win it has been the best feeling. I'm still on cloud 9 and will be for a very long time.

"Huge thank you to Anthony for the support, Jason, the Judges, Yorkshire Pecorino and Rak Porcelain for making it happen."

Emily first entered the competition in 2021 when I joined level 2. This gave her the inspiration and drive to enter again in 2022, producing a humble, seasonal and sustainable dish - Jerusalem Artichoke Risotto with Artichoke Bark, Leeds Blue Yorkshire Pecorino, Toasted Hazelnuts and Truffle Oil.

Thanks to Emily's talent, she was awarded the wild card in her heat and pulled through to the final.

"Since then," the rising star added, "I was in early morning at college at any opportunity - non stop practicing making sure every element on my dish was as perfect as it could be. Many thanks to all who tried it and gave me feedback on how I should improve.

"Once the final arrived I was more excited than anything. The buzz of the stadium was thrilling and to cook in the H Club kitchen was very cool. I got myself set up, and presented the best risotto I have ever made."

Emily competed against twelve young chefs in the Grand Final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this month, with the award presented by Ambassador Inigo Lambertini, from the Italian Embassy in London.

Emily wowed the judges with her Jerusalem Artichoke Risotto that led to praise from chairman of the judges, Paul Gayler.

"This competition goes from strength to strength each year," he said, adding: "it is a great testimony to the young chef talent emerging in this country.

"Emily's artichoke risotto was not only perfectly executed but also beautifully balanced, with traditional creaminess found in a great risotto, clever textures and presentation. An altogether outstanding dish".

The dishes were judged by professional chefs at the top of their game. The final judging panel was led by Consultant Chef Paul Gayler MBE, along with Danilo Cortellini, Consultant Chef at The Italian Embassy; Adriano Cavagnini, Executive Chef at the Bvlgari Hotel; Fabio Pisani (patron with Chef Alessandro Negrini) from Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia in Milan; Davide Degiovanni Head Chef at 5 Hertford St and Francesco Dibenedetto, Head Chef at Bibendum in London.

Jason Morrison, MD Riso Gallo UK, added: "We at Riso Gallo are proud to support our young British chefs, with work experience opportunities.

"Their kitchen abilities have been seen and tasted by those that they are going to work with. The British hospitality industry has some truly amazing talent".