Laurel chef is cream of the crop

Patrick Robiquet, executive chef for the Laurel Pub Company, is celebrating after winning the Aubrey Allen Midlands Chef of the Year title. The annually-held competition, which is now in its third year, sees chefs who live or work in the Midlands compete against each other for the prestigious title. The final stage of the event saw the eight finalists create a meal from a mystery box of ingredients. Robiquet's winning menu included pan-fried lamb sweetbreads, shallot confit with anya gnocchi, followed by roast chicken served with rillettes and wild mushroom with a haricot bean and parsley puree. Based in Leamington Spa, Robiquet has been with Laurel since September. He is responsible for creating and developing new menus, reviewing current menus to constantly seek ways of improving the food which is on offer, collating and producing food specification books for the Laurel estate and to carry out ongoing reviews of the supplier database. Ian Payne, chief executive for the Laurel Pub Company, said: It's a fantastic achievement.