From scrubbing pots, to brushing elbows with famous chefs, Elly Wentworth has come a long way since discovering her passion for cooking at the age of 13. Choosing to hone her craft here at the College, she has gone on to becoming a very promising young chef.
“I chose to study at City College because it offered a vocational pathway not available at school,” Elly says. “I could gain the necessary experience while studying and felt I learnt better in a hands-on environment. I love learning new things and you never know what new challenge is around the corner at the College. The lecturers were awesome and I gained all the essential skills to progress into my chosen career.
“Since leaving the College I have been able to gradually climb the career ladder and work with so many amazing chefs. From the Tanner brothers to Hywel Jones each one has taught me so much about my craft and given me invaluable experience.”
After completing her studies Elly, worked under Chris Tanner at Tanners in Plymouth for a year and a half before moving onto the Elephant Restaurant in Torquay where she worked as a Commis Chef. In 2012, she became a Chef de partie at The Manor House in Castle Coombe under Richard Davies and now works at Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa in Bath as a Junior Sous Chef.
Over the years she has entered and won the Young Professional class of the South West Chef of the Year competition twice before going on to win the title of South West Chef of the Year. In 2015, she reached the final of the Craft Guild of Chefs Young National Chef of the Year competition and the following June she was one of four winners of a Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Awards of Excellence (kitchen category). Her latest achievement is her most notable. As a finalist of MasterChef: The Professionals Elly expertly cooked her way into the final three.
“My ambitions as a young female chef are to push my ability, work with some of the most talented chefs in the South West and gain as much experience and knowledge from them as possible.
I’m now working alongside a Michelin star chef with the dream to have my own by the time I’m 28.”
