THE creative culinary skills of a young North-East chef have seen her crowned a national champion to kick-start her cooking career.

Ruth Hansom, from Darlington, has become the first female to earn the Young National Chef of the Year accolade following its launch five years ago to find the country’s best and brightest future stars.

The sought-after honour for the 21-year-old has seen her secure her role as commis chef at The Ritz, in London, where she continues to hone her culinary craft.

The former Longfield Academy student is continuing to add to her already impressive CV and this week served a celebratory dinner to Michelin-starred celebrity chef, Michelin Roux Jr.

Ms Hansom was inspired to create a Norwegian seafood menu for Mr Roux Jr after she enjoyed a foodie trip to Scandinavia alongside some of the country’s top chefs and former Young National Chef of the Year winners.

The talented group took to northern Norway’s crystal-clear waterways, off the island of Sommarøy, to catch, cook and taste Skrei – a special type of migratory cod only available between January and April each year.

The Norwegian Seafood Council-organised trip was rounded off with Ms Hansom serving a three-course menu, including confit Skrei cheek and pan-roasted Skrei, in the Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence, in Kensington, London, on Monday night.

A Norwegian Seafood Council spokeswoman said: “Inspired by her time out in Norway, Ruth later developed a show-stopping menu to cook at the Norwegian Ambassador’s Residence, with National Chef of the Year from 2008 and Michelin-starred chef, Simon Hulstone, for Michel Roux Jr and industry friends, as part of her prize for taking the title of Young National Chef of the Year.

“Originally from Darlington, Ruth saw off nine other chef finalists aged between 18 and 23 to be crowned the first female Young National Chef of the Year, at The Restaurant Show, in London, supported by the Norwegian Seafood Council.”

Ms Hansom’s winning menu to earn her Young National Chef of the Year 2017 award consisted of chicken liver panna cotta, Norwegian fjord trout, smoked eel and horseradish tortellini.

Following her win after four years of entering the competition, the 21-year-old said: “The first year I did it, I came second, but I didn’t really know what to expect with it.

“But after that I thought, oh, I came second and I actually really want to win. So for the past three years I’ve been working towards it – it’s such a relief.”

Guests enjoyed the Darlington-born chef’s menu on Monday evening which was based around Skrei that is sold in the UK at whole foods markets, fishmongers and in high-end department stores, such as Harrods, between February and April.

For more information on the National Chef of the Year competition, visit nationalchefoftheyear.co.uk/yncoty