A YORK chef gave fellow contestants a roasting in a national cooking competition.

Michael Cushing, 28, of The Groves, was one of eight aspiring Jamie Olivers who reached the semi-finals of a contest to find the next generation of celebrity chefs.

Michael, who regularly cooks up a storm on BBC Radio York, created his signature sea bass and butternut squash for celebrity judges at the Trafford Centre, in Manchester.

The judges included James Martin, who himself hails originally from North Yorkshire and who was recently in York to show off his culinary skills.

Father-of-two Michael, who is head chef at Rish in Fossgate, York, said he was disappointed not to win, but was pleased to have got so far.

Viewers of the cable channel UK Food were asked to vote for their favourite wannabe in the daily Good Food Live programme. The final will be shown live on the channel on November 27.

Updated: 10:23 Friday, November 22, 2002