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Presenter, Viv Lumsden, started the evening's proceedings introducing all of the eight finalists before announcing Kevin Sutherland, from Latheronwheel, Caithness as the winner following the Awards Dinner held at the Corinthian in Glasgow last night.

Kevin Receiving His Award and In Action

First Prize: Kevin Sutherland from the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh
Second Prize: Tristin Farmer from Enverdale House Hotel, Perthshire
Third Prize: Lesley McQuiston from Loch Green House Hotel, Troon
Runners Up:
Christopher Turnbull from Roman Camp, Callander
Anna Collier from St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews
Craig McWilliam from McMillan Hotels, Newton Stewart
Nigel Liston from Murrayshall House Hotel in Scone
Ryan Brady from The Bothy Restaurant in Perth
Youngest: Lesley McQuiston from Loch Green House Hotel, Troon

As principal partners of this inaugural award, Crimson Edge PR, Braehead Foods Ltd and Martin Wishart were delighted with the results. In its first year the Scottish Food Scholarship received a large number and caliber of entries of chefs under the age of 25. The Michelin star chefs chose eight contestants from each region of Scotland to participate in Regional Semi-Finals where they were tested on preparation, timing and presentation. The Final cook-off took place at Glasgow Metropolitan College yesterday.

The prestigious judging panel of the Scottish Food Scholarship Final included Martin Wishart, Tony Borthwick, Keith Braidwood, Allan Donald, Jeff Bland, Matthew Gray and Chris Firth Bernard, who were looking for competence, an ability to work with seasonal ingredients and individual flair in a designated time frame. The winner, Kevin Sutherland won a trip to Melbourne Australia to learn from Raymond Capaldi at Fenix in Melbourne and will carry out an internship at Restaurant Martin Wishart.

Kevin Sutherland, has already been recognised back in October 2005 when he came second as one of Scotland's top young chefs after competing in the UK Young Chef Young Waiter 2005 competition in London. The competition, which took place at Westminster Kingsway College, London, was organised by the Restaurant Association and Springboard UK, and was judged by a number of leading chefs including Tom Aikens and Philip Howard. Kevin, who has been with The Balmoral for two years, was presented with the second prize of �1,000 and a weekend for two at Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey.  Kevin certainly seems to have a knack for winning prizes as his skills keep on getting better. Well done Kevin.