A YOUNG Pershore woman demonstrated she had the recipe for success when she won a top catering competition.

Chef de partie Susan Ellis, who works at Evesham's Wood Norton Hotel, recently collected the Chef of the Year award in front of 1,200 people at the Midland Association of Restaurants, Caterers and Hotels Competition grand finale in Birmingham.

Competitors had to submit a starter, main course and dessert prepared in two-and-a-half hours and Susan's menu was judged before the finalists went into a "cook off" at Birmingham College of Food.

The 21-year-old cooked up a stir when she prepared seafood spring roll and seared scallops with balsamic dressing, followed by pork fillet with a rosemary rosti, parsnip puree and braised white cabbage.

For dessert, Susan prepared a vanilla parfait, wrapped in a chocolate tuile, with warm marinated cherries.

"I am absolutely amazed to win the competition. It was the best thing that could have happened," said Susan.

"But I couldn't have done it without the help and support of my boss Steve Waites."