South West cooking competition opens to home cooks

The Home Cook category of the prestigious South West Chef of the Year 2026 is now open for entries.

Co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines MBE DL, the competition celebrates cooking talent from across the region and offers a unique platform for those who haven’t worked or trained in the catering industry to gain recognition for their skills.

Mr Caines said: "There’s so much talent in home kitchens across the South West, and this competition is a chance to bring that into the spotlight.

"If you love cooking and take pride in the food you create, we’d really encourage you to enter.

"Whether you’re cooking for friends, family or hosting your own supper clubs, it all counts—what matters is your passion for great local ingredients and delicious food."

Entrants in the Home Cook category must be aged 16 or over and create two dishes using a selection of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients provided by the competition.

Finalists will have the chance to cook live at Exeter College on Saturday, October 10, in front of a panel of high-profile chefs, including Mr Caines, Scott Paton, and Tim Kendall.

Past winners say the competition can open doors to a future in food.

Steve Ashworth, the 2013 Home Cook winner from Taunton, said: "When I entered South West Chef of the Year as a Home Cook in 2013, I just wanted reassurance that I really could cook well.

"I wasn’t a professional, I wasn’t confident—I simply loved food.

"Winning showed me that this competition is genuinely for everyone.

"If you’ve got passion for food, you deserve to put yourself forward.

"In doing so, it will open up a whole new world of food opportunities and give you friends for life."

Munopa Nheta, who won the category in 2022 and now works as a chef at The White Hart in Wiveliscombe, said: "Participating in Home Cooks has changed the way I view my cooking.

"I now have more confidence in my dishes and my process.

"Being in a category with great cooks and getting to hear professional chefs say they loved my food will always shine as one of the reasons I went on to work in food."

She encouraged others to take part, adding: "I would say just do it.

"The joy of putting up a dish that you’ve worked hard on in front of industry professionals isn’t something that happens often for home cooks.

"It’s a chance for people other than family and friends to see your food and appreciate your talent."

Entries can be submitted at southwestchef.co.uk.

Entrants must live in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, or Wiltshire, and the deadline for submissions is Friday, July 31.

Finalists and winners will be honoured at the Awards Presentation Dinner on Tuesday, October 27, where leading chefs from the region will prepare a four-course meal for guests at Exeter Golf and Country Club.

In addition to the Home Cook category, the competition is open to professional chefs, young professional chefs (aged 18 to 24), student/apprentice chefs (aged 16 to 19), and junior chefs (aged 11 to 16 and still at school).

Junior Chef entries close earlier, on Tuesday, May 26.