AN ULVERSTON chef will battle it out in front of a panel of esteemed judges after being named a regional finalist in the running for the prestigious Roux Scholarship.

Ben Queen-Fryer, head chef at Ford Park's The Coach House Cafe and Bistro, captured the attention of some of the biggest names in the food industry with a recipe that bagged him a spot as one of just 18 nationwide regional finalists.

"I didn't expect to get through as really good chefs apply so I was just a bit shocked," said the 25-year-old who lives in the town with his wife and two young children.

Winning the competition could make him the second Cumbrian chef to bag the title in two years after Cartmel's L'Enclume chef Tom Barnes was crowned Roux scholar last year.

The contenders had to submit a recipe for four people using guinea fowl and chicken livers with a sauce and two garnishes, one including spinach leaves and the other the chef's choice.

A first time entrant, Ben submitted his dish at the end of January and found out just last week that his recipe had been chosen in the blind selection process - by none other than the renowned Roux family themselves.

"I know they judge it blind, but from what I've seen a lot of the same people get in year after year," he said.

The chef has worked in a number of kitchens across South Lakeland including the Drunken Duck Inn, Ambleside, Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite, Windermere's Gilpin Hotel and the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer.

But Ben wanted to be closer to home and has now been at Ford Park for six months where he enjoys working as part of a charity which has volunteers help grow the cafe and bistro's own produce in a kitchen garden.

For now Ben is preparing for the heated cook off on March 12 at the regional finals in Birmingham where he will have two-and-a-half hours to whip together his approved recipe, plus a sweet treat from a mystery dessert box.

Following the regional finals, being hosted in Birmingham and London, the last stage of the competition for chefs aged between 22 and 30 will be held in London.

This will see the final six go head to head for the Roux Scholarship winner.