A YOUNG chef from Swindon has won a coveted award after cooking up an Oriental treat.

Joseph Vinten, 22, from Haydon End, is studying at University College Birmingham and scooped the title of Young Chef Of The Year for Oriental Cuisine, which celebrated culinary expertise of the best chefs across the Midlands.

New for this year the competition set out to find the Midlands’ most promising young talent in Oriental cooking.

It offered chefs between the ages of 18 to 25, who were either training or employed in the catering industry the chance to boost their culinary careers.

Joseph was chosen after a challenging 90 minute cook-off at University College Birmingham during the day, which saw 11 finalists prepare an authentic two- course meal.

Judges on the day included celebrity TV chef Ching He Huang, Michelin-starred Birmingham chef Glynn Purnell, and the President of the British Culinary Federation, Peter Griffiths.

He said: “This competition has shown great diversity and is different to other competitions on the circuit.

“The calibre of the entries has been high, so selecting our winners was difficult.

“This makes Joseph’s award even more impressive and he should be very proud of his achievement.”

Joseph impressed the judges with his dishes of lobster spring rolls and duo of Asian quail.

He has won a culinary trip to Hong Kong where he will have the opportunity to experience fine Asian cuisine and the popular street food scene.

He said: “I can’t believe the judges thought my food was good enough to win, and it was great to meet Glynn – he is one of my biggest inspirations.

I am so excited and cannot wait to try out more Oriental cuisine when I visit Hong Kong later in the year.”

TV chef and judge Ching He Huang, said: “Joseph thoroughly deserved the title.”