Young chef cooks at Heston's Dinner in final of national competition

A teenage chef from Maidenhead is preparing to cook for Heston Blumenthal's number two in the final round of a national competition.

Craig Johnson, of Cookham Road, has been whittled down from 64 to two as part of the Chef Stagiaire Awards.

The 18-year-old, who learnt his trade at Boulters Riverside Brasserie, was selected for the final 20 after impressing judges with a detailed menu design.

He won a place in the final following a week working at L'Ortolan in Reading.

Craig is currently working a five-day stint at Heston Blumenthal's Dinner in London.

Tomorrow he will cook his original menu for Fat Duck Group executive chef Ashley Palmer Watts.

The winning chef will win two all expenses paid trips to work at restaurants in both San Francisco and Oman.