Adam Smith, head chef of the Burlington Restaurant at The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey has been awarded first place in the Bocuse d'Or National Selection chef competition at Hotel Olympia on Monday.

Smith now has the opportunity to compete in the grand final of the Bocuse d'Or in 2015.

Chefs in the competition were given one and a half hours to prepare a fish and a meat dish with three different hot garnishes, five portions of each suitable to decorate a chicken ballotine.

Adam's dish was a garnish of black leg chicken with Alsace bacon and foie gras, truffled egg, cabbage puree and new season pea mousse, langoustine and celeriac, a leek and cauliflower stack, golden beetroot with wild garlic.

Smith, a former Roux scholar joined the Burlington Restaurant in June 2013. He was presented with the Bocuse d'Or trophy and a winner's plate from Villeroy & Boch.

Bocuse d'Or is a prestigious cooking competition for professional chefs.  Created by chefs, for chefs, the Bocuse d'Or is a unique contest aimed at culinary perfection.

A springboard for culinary talents, the Bocuse d'Or contributes to exchanges amongst chefs all over the world and paves the way for a new culture of gastronomy.

Adam commented, "Overcoming such strong competition at the selection event was a great achievement for me, there were some very talented chefs involved. Having competed as a commis chef at the competition twice before gave me a better understanding of the standards and style expected and ultimately helped with the end result. I am really proud to have been selected.”

Winner of The Observer's Young Chef of The Year Award 2012 Adam has created new and innovative menus at the Burlington Restaurant including the launch of a new signature afternoon tea.

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Notes to Editors: -

The Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants Group are owned by The Duke of Devonshire and are situated in both the 30,000 acre Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire and the 35,000 acre Chatsworth Estate.

The Burlington Restaurant has 3 AA rosettes and is located in The Devonshire Arms Hotel  & Spa on the Bolton Abbey estate.

The Burlington was named “Best Hotel Restaurant” for 2013 at the annual Oliver awards and the restaurant has most recently been awarded a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013.

During the past 10 years, Adam has won numerous prestigious awards for his talents as a chef, including a gold medal in World Skills in Calgary, 2009 – making him only the second British chef to achieve this feat in the 45-year history of the competition.

Locally sourced produce is at the heart of The Devonshire Arms. Each dish is exquisitely and freshly prepared, using Estate meat and game with seasonal vegetables and herbs from the kitchen gardens whenever possible.

The restaurant itself is decorated with pale aubergine walls, adorned by classical architectural drawings (from the renowned Devonshire Collection at Chatsworth), and soft intimate lighting. Antique tables are dressed with designer silverware, fine crystal glasses and stylish white china, setting the scene for a memorable dining experience.