THE popular chef at a Chaddesley Corbett hotel has earned further praise for his high quality cuisine.

Jerome Barbancon took third place in the Aubrey Allen Midlands Chef of the Year competition.

Eight top chefs from around the Midlands converged on Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies to try and to try to impress a panel of judges that included leading chef Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex of the two Michelin starred Auberge de I'le in Lyon; Roger Narbett, chef to the England football team; Brian Turner; Kevin Viner of Viners Bar and Restaurant in Cornwall and Claire Clarke, top pastry chef from the Wolseley Restaurant in London.

Each chef was required to cook a four course meal from a mystery basket of ingredients, the contents of which were not disclosed until the day of the event.

The event was organised by the Midlands Association of Chefs in conjunction with main sponsor Aubrey Allen Ltd.

Brockencote Hall's owners Joseph and Alison Petitjean were very proud of their chef, who win £500 for his efforts, and felt that his place recognises the quality of the work he does at the country house hotel, officially one of the top 200 in the country.

"Jerome has consistently produced quite excellent food in the years he has been with us," said Joseph Petitjean.

"These competitions are very subjective, but to be in the top three shows that his skills are recognised on a wider front by his fellow professionals and he should be very proud of his achievement."