A CHESTER restaurant team is celebrating after its head chef has reached the finals of one of the finest cooking competitions in the country.

Head chef at The Forge on Grosvenor Park Road, Curtis Tonge, has reached the finals of The Roux Scholarship.

Founded in 1982 by the late great brothers, Michel and Albert Roux, it has now been taken over by their sons Michel Roux Jr of Le Gavroche and Alain Roux of The Waterside Inn.

The Roux Scholarship is an institution that has been behind the making of some of the UK's most respected and celebrated chefs, such as Sat Bains, Simon Hulstone, Luke Selby and Andre Garrett.

Curtis will compete against five national finalists for the title of Roux Scholar 2020/2021 where the main, coveted prize will be an invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious three-star Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months.

Curtis said: “I found the regional final amazing, I felt really strong and really enjoyed the day as a whole. For the final, I’m in it to win it!"