ACE Ready Steady Cook: Dynamic duo sizzles their way to second place!

There’s no stopping, Jessica Simpson, Head Chef, and Niamh Adamson, Senior Sous Chef, as they grilled, sliced and diced their way to an incredible second-place finish at the Association of Catering Excellence’s (ACE) Ready Steady Cook competition! Held at 93 Feat East in London, the 26^th edition of the competition saw 12 chef duos all across the industry battle it out in an epic culinary showdown.

Tasked with using a Japanese Konro BBQ grill and just 45 minutes on the clock, Jess and Niamh crafted two stunning dishes that impressed judges Sabrina Gidda and Ben Tish. For the first course, they fueled their individuality by plating a succulent BBQ Gressingham Duck with XO sauce, rice paper pancake, fermented red bean charred greens, mushroom and plum. For their second course they tackled a mystery box filled with seasonal veggies, creating a delicious vegan dish: a BBQ zaatar flatbread, smoked aubergine, purple broccoli, butter bean and herb salad topped with dukkah.

Despite being based in different regions – Jess in London and Niamh in the North – the two chefs bonded over their shared Obsession for food. Niamh said, “Jess and I only officially met a couple of weeks ago, but it’s been amazing working together. We’ve been bouncing ideas off each other ever since.” She also added: “It really challenged us to think outside the box, but our competitive edge helped us, and we poured our hearts into prepping for it. The support from everyone has also kept us going and we’ve truly enjoyed every moment of it.”

Host of the evening, Andy Aston, Head of Wellness & Nutrition, proudly praised them: “Watching Jess and Niamh has been inspiring. They embodied confidence and showed everyone their talent through their incredible teamwork. I’m so proud of what they’ve achieved, and they’ve set a great example for others in the industry.”

Our dynamic duo is just getting started. With Jess recently crowned Chef of the Year and Niamh as Regional Chef of the Year, these rising stars are pushing boundaries as women in hospitality through the power of food and paving the way for next generation of female chefs, ready to follow in their footsteps.