Teenager reaches semi-final of competition to win culinary scholarship (From Harrow Times)

Teenager Akash Patel in the running to win £30,000 scholarship

3:10pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Jaber Mohamed

A teenager from Willesden has reached the semi-final of a competition to win a £30,000 culinary scholarship.

Akash Patel, 17, of Honeyman Close, is one of 16 from across the UK being considered for the next round of the search to find a student to take the Le Grande Diplôme course.

The course is run by Le Cordon Bleu at its Centre of Excellence in Bloomsbury Square and is open to young people aged 17 to 20.

The winner will receive a scholarship award worth more than £30,000 including accommodation fees and an apprenticeship with acclaimed chef Pierre Koffmann at his Knightsbridge restaurant.

Mr Patel, who attends City of London School for Boys, dreams of becoming a Michelin-starred chef and owning a number of restaurants.

He had to upload a video of himself explaining why he thought he would be a good candidate for the scholarship, and his entry impressed members of Le Cordon Bleu’s Academic Panel.

The semi finals take place on March 11 and the final will be in London on March 27.

The award will be presented by Minister for Skills, Matthew Hancock MP.