Young Welsh chef Joey Jones from Carden Park Hotel has been awarded two silver medals at the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany, as part of the Welsh National Junior Team.

The Culinary Olympics happen every four years and are endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies or Worldchefs, with 32 national senior teams and 20 junior teams taking part in the four days of intense competition.

Known as the IKA/Culinary Olympics, the International Culinary Art Exhibition is the largest international professional competition for chefs, cooks and pastry chefs. More than 2,000 chefs prepared over 7,000 fresh menus and turn the Erfurt exhibition halls into the largest restaurant in the world.

The junior team included Joey Jones along with Jack Davison (Deganwy Quay Hotel and Spa), Steffan Davies (Gidleigh Park, Exeter), Sion Roberts (Pollen Street Social, London), Harry Paynter-Roberts (Castle Hotel, Conwy), Arron Tye (Shared Olive) and Ffion Lewis (Hilltop Honey, Caersws).

The talented young Welsh team were keen to promote their ‘Together Stronger’ mantra that brought the nation’s football team record breaking success at this summer’s Euro 2016 tournament.

Joey joined the Carden Park catering team in 2015 to work with executive head chef Graham Tinsley MBE, who has catered for several members of the Royal family during his career, including Prince Charles and Her Majesty the Queen, as well as the Emperor of Japan and several other international heads of state.

Graham has also nurtured the careers of many chefs who have gone on to great things including James Durrant, who became head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in 2005, and young chef and British and International Escoffier winner, Dion Jones.

Executive head chef at Carden Park Hotel Graham Tinsley praised Joey, saying: “This is a fantastic accolade for Joey, he has a great deal of talent and performs so well under pressure.

“The competition was intense and the junior teams were facing a new element this year with the hot and cold edible buffet and live theatre category which really tested their cooking ability to the maximum.

“We are proud to have Joey in our team here at Carden and we enjoy challenging our talented stars to push the boundaries and surprise themselves.”