Eat your heart out, Loyd Grossman!

Bradford's very own Master-chefs spent an afternoon of frenzied activity competing for the title of Telegraph & Argus Cook of the Year.

The three contestants who rolled up their sleeves to take part in the challenge, run in association with Northern Electric & Gas, were Donna Wilford, Peter Garbutt and Mary Morris.

They had two-and-a-half hours to come up with a sumptuous three-course meal in the kitchens of the Quality Victoria Hotel in Bradford.

The judges were T&A news editor Lynn Ashwell, the hotel's head chef Stephen Evans and Eric Oldfield - a salesman at the Northern Electric & Gas showroom at Forster Square, Bradford.

It was a very close match, but Donna Wilford, a 30-year-old housewife from Clayton, won by three points. She said: "I hoped I would win but I thought it would be close between the three of us. Quite a lot of my cooking was last-minute but I managed to stay cool and calm, although my feet ache a bit."

Donna was congratulated by her husband David, their four-year-old daughter Rebecca and nephew Robert.

Her prize was a £2,000 gas and electric cooker as well as having all her electric and gas bills (up to £500) paid for a year.

Stephen Evans said: "The standard was exceptionally high but Donna's main course clinched it because it was tasty, the presentation was good and the combination of the chicken and the sauce was nice."

Lynn Ashwell said: "It was a very tough decision." Peter, a 64-year-old fine arts publisher from Bradford who entertained everyone by cracking jokes, said: "It was brilliant, we had a good laugh."

Mary, from Keighley, said: "I enjoyed it a lot. The kitchen staff were really helpful, kind and friendly and everyone was so welcoming."

The judges said Peter's fish was extremely good and his pears were poached to perfection.

Mary's souffle, they said, melted in the mouth and her tart was outstanding.

Mary and Peter were both given colour portable televisions by Northern Electric & Gas as consolation prizes.

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