THE executive head chef at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport has been selected to represent Wales at a major international cooking contest in Denmark this summer.

Michael Bates, 54, will compete against the best chefs in Northern Europe at the continental semi-final of The Global Chefs Challenge in Aalborg on June 5 and 6.

The winner of the competition will represent Northern Europe in the world final to be held at the Worldchefs Congress 2016 in Athens.

The prestigious competition is organised by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) and Mr Bates will be representing the Culinary Association of Wales.

In the semi-final he will have three hours to cook a three-course meal for six people. In the world final, the seven finalists will be given six hours and 45 minutes to cook a four course meal for 12 people.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to represent your country on the European stage and I am looking forward to the competition,” said Mr Bates.

"I am in the process of choosing the dishes that I’m going to cook and I shall then perfect them before the competition.

“I like to cook with ingredients that are in season and my food is primarily based on the flavour rather than the way it looks.”

Mr Bates was formerly the executive chef at the grand Victorian Royal Bath Hotel, group executive chef at Hurst House on the Marsh, Laugharne and Hurst House, Covent Garden, London, a private members club.

He won the European Spa Chef of the Year in 2001 and the Chef Skills/Mentor award in 2007.

He was also a Welsh Chef of the Year finalist in 2000 and 2014, twice winner of the South Wales Chef of the Year and has competed with the Culinary Team Wales around the world.