A CHEF is celebrating after winning one of the culinary world’s highest accolades.

Malcolm Emery, 52, from Brightwell- cum-Sotwell, led his team to a gold medal in the La Parade des Chefs competition at Hotelympia – Europe’s largest catering industry event.

Teams of chefs from across Britain had to cook in front of a live audience of friends, family, colleagues and leading industry figures, plus former England rugby player Matt Dawson.

Mr Emery has worked for food firm Sodexo for 22 years and has run kitchens at Royal Ascot and the Chelsea Flower Show.

He said: “I’m delighted we won a gold medal in such a prestigious competition.

“It was a great test for us as we don’t normally work together, but we managed to utilise the various talent from across the business to come together and create a winning team.”

Ten of Britain’s leading catering firms were involved in the finals.

Mr Emery’s team also won a silver medal in the team buffet competition the following day.