Royal Surrey NHS chefs win national award

Mr Alejandro Bedoya Hernandez (L) and Ms Manuela Miccoli won the award together

Two NHS chefs from Surrey have been crowned winners of the NHS Chef of the Year award.

Manuela Miccoli, 50, and Alejandro Bedoya Hernandez, 27, who are chefs for the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, beat seven other finalists in a five-day cooking competition in York.

"I am really proud of what we have achieved" said Mr Hernandez.

Ms Miccoli said winning the award as a team was a dream come true.

The pair cooked a starter of venison bao buns with blackberry barbecue sauce and celeriac and apple slaw.

The main dish was hake gnocchi with a granola and tomato sauce.

An alternative option was a lentil patty with roast potatoes, celeriac fondant and mushroom gravy.

Dessert was a tiramisu.

"We have a joint passion for food and I am so pleased that we were able to show this on the day," said Ms Miccoli.

Phil Shelley, senior operational manager of NHS England said the food had "raised the bar to a new level".

"Their focus and calmness throughout the competition will help them develop into NHS culinary ambassadors".

Both chefs work for Medirest, a company that provides food for NHS trusts.

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