Derek Johnstone, Head Chef at Borthwick Castle in Midlothian, is the only Scottish chef to have reached the semi-finals of this year’s National Chef of the Year contest.
Derek, who joined Borthwick Castle in 2017 following the venue’s two-year restoration, secured his place in the semi-finals with a creative interpretation of the competition’s first task, a three-course summer menu.
The next stage of the contest will see Derek travel to Sheffield to compete in the semi-finals at Sheffield College on Tuesday 11 June.
Derek finished in third place overall at last year’s National Chef of the Year competition, also taking home the Exceptional Presentation Award.
Launched in 1972 and judged by a panel of more than 40 respected chefs from across the industry, previous winners of The National Chef of the Year competition include Gordon Ramsay, Alyn Williams and Mark Sargeant.
Derek Johnstone said, “I’m absolutely delighted to have secured a place in the National Chef of the Year competition. This is such a prestigious contest for chefs working throughout the UK, and I can’t wait to represent Scotland at the semi-finals next month.”
Derek launched his career at a young age, winning the inaugural series of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2008 before going on to hone his skills working alongside Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche and Albert Roux at Chez Roux.