A talented pastry chef from Wimbledon has been shortlisted for a national catering award.

Phill Skinazi, the executive pastry development chef for the catering company BaxterStorey is a finalist in the ‘Pastry Chef Award’ category of the Craft Guild of Chef Awards, which honours talented persons in the catering industry.

The 33-year-old was recommended by Alastair Storey, the chief executive of catering company WSH and David Nicholls, corporate director at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for his contribution to pastry making.

He was also supported by his colleagues and friends.

He said: “It’s really humbling to be shortlisted and to win the overall award would be the icing on the cake.

"I have been focusing on pastry for 15 years now and have been very lucky to develop my skills in many locations across the UK.

“Who’d have thought, after starting my working life as a porter and peeling vegetables in a local hotel, I’d become part of London’s prestigious pastry brigade.”

The winners will be revealed on June 10 at The Craft Guild of Chef’s 20th Anniversary Award Ceremony in Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair.