Congratulations Mike White from The Salt Room – Best Emerging Chef 2017!

Joined by some of the best restaurants, food critics and journalists from across Sussex, we hosted the inaugural English’s Chef-off in May 2017. It was a tense afternoon as our competing chefs cooked live in front of a crowded audience, before presenting their finished dish to our panel of judges, who critiqued each entry based on 8 factors – including technical skill, presentation and use of produce. They chose Mike White from The Salt Room as their winner, and recipient of a £250 voucher for Nisbets.

Mike White from The Salt Room, Best Emerging Chef

“I’m extremely happy to have come 1st place, especially knowing that the chefs stood beside me worked just as hard on the day. It was nerve racking but the support from the audience and fellow chefs was outstanding. The inspiration for my dish started with my surroundings; we’re lucky to have a great relationship with our suppliers and a local forager at source. We are a Brighton-based seafood restaurant, therefore it only felt natural to use ingredients native and humble to project our restaurants ethos. Mackerel is an amazing fish.” – Mike White, The Salt Room.

l-r: Nick Emmott (English’s), Thomas Griffiths (Flank), Jonathan Speirs (English’s), Steven Edwards (Etch.) and Michael Bremner (64 degrees).

For more photos follow us on Facebook, where you’ll find an album of photos from the day. Thanks again to our panel of judges, each of the chefs who bravely took part, and our sponsors Brighton & Newhaven Fish Sales, Kensington and Bibendum Wines for their support on the day. We’re already looking forward to next year!