Simon Wilkes from Planters Garden Centre at Tamworth reached the finals of last week’s the Pizza & Pasta Chef of the Year competitions alongside 29 other top pizza chefs and 11 other top pasta chefs from across the country.

Although failing to get an award on the night, Simon won through to the Grand Final run by the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association with his unique creation: App-Le Wood (Norseland Cheese Category), his Salmon Surprise (Euro Pizza Dough Category) and his pasta - Pappardelle Nicolina. Simon said: “This competition is a great way of inspiring new ideas and we've got this new creation on our specials board. It's been selling really well.”

Above: Planters directors Gerald and Christine Ingram with chef Simon Wilkes.

Gethin Evans from competition organisers PAPA said: “The quest to find the country's best pizza & pasta chef takes us on an amazing journey not only across the UK but across the pizza & pasta spectrum, too. From classical Neapolitan bases to indulgent and densely topped designs, new flavour combinations and an array of ovens and methods. It's a pizza & pasta lover's dream!”

The Pizza Chef of the Year competition required contenstants to design a pizza recipe around a specific sponsor's product in six categories. In the Pasta Chef of the Year competition, contestants had to work with a variety of pasta shapes and styles.

The final was held at the inaugural European Pizza and Pasta Show at Olympia in London last Thursday (10 November).