A CHEF at Ipswich Hospital has won a first class award in his employer's national Salon Culinaire finals.Alan Hardcastle was awarded a Gold medal and Best in Class title for his entry to the Sodexho competition; a marzipan in the 'Decorative Piece' section.

A CHEF at Ipswich Hospital has won a first class award in his employer's national Salon Culinaire finals.

Alan Hardcastle was awarded a Gold medal and Best in Class title for his entry to the Sodexho competition; a marzipan in the 'Decorative Piece' section.

The creation used 6kg of marzipan in different colours.

There were eleven categories in the competition, and finalists were chosen from a total of 20 regional salon culinaires which took place across the country.