Churchill continues to play a role in supporting the future of British gastronomy as a long-standing sponsor of both the National Chef of the Year (NCOTY) and Young National Chef of the Year (YNCOTY) competitions.

Having supported the competitions for 16 years, Churchill’s support helps competitors to achieve the highest standards of presentation.

A key part of the semi-final challenge

As part of the semi-final brief, competing chefs are required to present their dishes using Churchill crockery and were sent a brochure packed with stunning products to choose from.

Chefs were able to place their order in advance and will bring their chosen crockery with them to the semi-final, ensuring they can practise, so they are fully prepared to present their dishes exactly as intended.

Enabling creativity through presentation

By asking chefs to think about their crockery choices ahead of the competition, Churchill plays an active role in the creative planning process. When designing their dishes, chefs can also think about the colour, shape and texture of their tableware helping competitors to elevate the food.

Why Churchill?

  • The choice. Churchill has a wide portfolio of offer 400 products catering to the whole spectrum of hospitality establishments. For the competition though focus was given to a selection of premium, innovative ranges that enhance food presentation.
  • The tableware is materially and design engineered to last in a professional setting, from their unique clay recipe, the vitrification process and controlled kiln environment to durable shape design and long-lasting finishes.
  • Raw materials are responsibly sourced and carefully selected to create a strong, long-lasting product.
  • The heritage. A British manufacturer with a history dating back over 230 years. Continuing to innovate and serve the market with values of quality and service.

Explore the Churchill range

The semi-finalists could choose from the following products in the Churchill range:

AMBIENCE – A stylish and elegant range of finer, lighter Alchemy plates, bowls and beverage pieces, Ambience is especially designed for fine dining creating the perfect canvas for food presentation.

INKED® FRESCO – Drawing on centuries of ceramic and printmaking history, Inked Fresco features a stylised fish design, a motif used on 18th century ceramics to symbolise prosperity, abundance and good fortune. Evocative of coastal regions that have a strong fishing heritage, Fresco is ideal for Mediterranean, Japanese and Scandinavian cuisines.

INKED® LUMÉ – The Inked Lumé design evokes an energetic burst of radial light, adding brilliance to dynamic tabletops. Transforming every meal into an experience, Lumé brings drama and a sense of artistry to the table.

INKED® CASCADE – The captivating Cascade pattern radiates outward from a central point, naturally framing the plate to enhance food presentation. Part of the Inked collection, Cascade pairs with other printed designs to create a dynamic and expressive tabletop.

INKED® LYRA – Taking its name from the Lyra constellation, the collection features a distinct starburst design. Framed by its cosmic pattern, Lyra allows for creative freedom combining decorative pattern with white space.

INKED® TIDE – Contemporary and striking, the new Tide design draws its inspiration from the fluid and organic shapes of coastal landscapes. The balance of white space and reactive colour means Tide is perfect for premium food presentation and modern hospitality settings.

INKED® TIDE ACCENTS – Tide Accents is a minimal evolution of the original Tide design. Featuring the iconic fluid pattern in white, it’s elevated with a bold, contemporary dash of colour, perfect for modern plating and premium dining.

INKED® ELEMENTS – Elements takes its inspiration from the close link between ceramic clay and the natural earth that formed it, featuring a radial pattern and texture. The design is available in colours inspired by the landscape, making it ideal for presenting fresh produce.

NATURAL – The Natural collection is achieved through pioneering manufacturing processes that have been developed to once-fire their ceramics as part of Churchill’s ethos to envision and build a better future.

OPAL – This is a collection of contemporary shapes inspired by the organic lines of nature. Available in new sizes of plates and bowls, the subtle and timeless shape lends itself to the presentation of fresh and seasonal dishes.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve loved seeing some of our semi-finalists share photos of their Churchill deliveries on Instagram and we can’t wait to see what products the competitors have chosen at the cook-offs. We’ll be sharing content via our Instagram account throughout the heats so make sure you are following @craftguildofchefs.