FIRST-CLASS food came to York when world-renowned chef Raymond Blanc judged the GNER Chef of the Year competition at the York Festival of Food & Drink.

Four rail chefs prepared a high-speed three-course meal for the judging panel, which included Raymond and GNER chief executive Christopher Garnett.

Edinburgh-based Samantha Scott, 29, was declared the winner, the first woman to win the prestigious title in its six-year history, and she collected a trophy, £200, a chef's jacket and knife, a hamper and a trip on Eurostar.

Her winning menu of chilli, lentil & lime soup, Aberdeen Angus fillet on a celeriac and chilli gratin, and lemon curd and cashew nut cheesecake, will now be served at the annual GNER Customer Service Awards.

There was an extra surprise for the finalists when Raymond offered them a day's cooking at his restaurant and hotel, Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons, in Oxford, with a night's stay for Samantha. Cookery demonstrations by Raymond and Sue Lawrence, of the Guild of Food Writers, and a tasting of GNER's on-train wines also drew large crowds during yesterday's GNER-sponsored events programme.

The festival runs until Sunday. For more details, visit www.yorkfestivaloffoodanddrink.com.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, September 15, 2004