Award‑Winning University of Leeds Chefs Succeed at National TUCO Competitions
National recognition for culinary excellence
University of Leeds chefs Rob Hargreaves, Andy Cornall and Szczepan Swierkosz have secured multiple awards at the prestigious TUCO Chef Competitions, achieving national recognition for culinary excellence.
Held at the University of Warwick on 31 March and 1 April 2026. The event brought together over 100 university chefs from across the UK. Competing across a series of high‑pressure culinary challenges, the University of Leeds team impressed judges with their creativity, innovation and technical skills.
The TUCO Chef Competitions are widely regarded as a benchmark event within the university catering sector. Celebrating innovation and quality across food service disciplines.
Gold and silver awards across multiple categories
Burger challenge
Gold & Best in Class – Szczepan Swierkosz, Cloth Hall Court
Competitors had 45 minutes to produce two portions of a burger with a creative twist, using ingredients of their choice. Szczepan’s winning “Smash and Smoke” burger featured smashed brisket patties, American-style cheese and a smoked coffee pork belly jam. Impressing the judging panel, which included one of the founders of the The Beefy Boys.
Sandwich challenge
Silver – Szczepan Swierkosz, Cloth Hall Court
In just 30 minutes, competitors were challenged to produce two versions of the same sandwich. One for retail and one for buffet service. Szczepan’s “Kimchi Crunch Melt”, combining smoked brisket, kimchi and melted cheese in toasted sourdough, was judged by Stephanie Moon, known for her appearances on Great British Menu.
Chefs’ challenge
Gold – Rob Hargreaves, University House & Andy Cornall, Cloth Hall Court
Rob and Andy worked as a team to produce a three-course meal for two covers in two hours, highlighting local and seasonal produce. Their menu included a Wensleydale and confit yolk tart, a trio of spring lamb, and a sheep’s yoghurt and Yorkshire rhubarb dessert. Their dishes were judged by Stephanie Moon alongside Peter Griffiths, making their Gold award a significant achievement.
Showcasing quality and professionalism
Sam Glenister‑Batey, Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development, commented:
“This is an outstanding achievement for our chefs. Their skill, creativity and professionalism really shone through in a highly competitive national field, and they represented the University of Leeds brilliantly.”
Exceptional food for Conferences and Events
The University of Leeds’ success at the TUCO Chef Competitions highlights the high calibre of its catering teams and reinforces its reputation for delivering exceptional food and hospitality across conferences and events.