Cooking up the ultimate in meals on wheels has won top railway chef Chris Tarrant the highest accolade in his profession.

Chris Tarrant, of Hemingbrough, winner of the GNER Chef of the Year competition, held at the National Railway Museum

Chris, of Hemingbrough, near Selby, creates first-class dishes on the move with York-based GNER, and now the company has recognised his talents by making him their Chef of the Year.

In a heated competition at the National Railway Museum, five of GNER's 80 chefs laboured over hot stoves in the shadow of the legendary locomotive, The Mallard, in the two-hour competition.

To win the title, Chris prepared a top-quality three-course meal for four on less than £40 under the watchful eye of expert judges.

His menu included a starter of wild mushroom samosas, a main course consisting of a roast rack of English lamb with a herb crust, finished off with a dessert of white chocolate and pistachio nut mousse with an elderflower cream.

Chris, 39, began working with GNER only three months ago after a career in the Merchant Navy.

Now he is looking forward to enjoying his prize of an all-expenses paid trip to Geneva.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It was a tough challenge to cook against the clock, to a tight budget and against very talented chefs."

Following the success of the competition GNER is hoping to expand it by encouraging chefs from other train companies, both at home and abroad, to take part.

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