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

Susan Ellis, aged 21, a chef de partie who works at Evesham's BBC 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 at the beginning of the month.

All the chefs submitted an entry of a starter, main course and dessert, prepared in two and a half hours.

Susan's menu was paper judged, and then the finalists had a "cook off" at Birmingham College of Food in January. Susan, of Orchard Road, cooked a seafood spring roll and seared scollop with balsamic dressing for a starter.

A main course of pork fillet, with a rosemary rosti, parsnip puree, braised white cabbage and a crisp salsify.

For dessert, she prepared a vanilla parfait, wrapped in a chocolate tuile with warm marinaded cherries.

The chefs then faced an agonising wait until the awards ceremony.

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

"I couldn't have done it without Steve's (Waites - her boss) help and support."