The company's annual event, held at the Knorr Kitchen at Unilever headquarters near Leatherhead, Surrey, saw chefs from the group's 25 nurseries tackling the challenge of preparing a nutritionally balanced main course and pudding in 90 minutes, which they would typically serve to children at their setting.
The finalists were chosen for the nutritional content of their menus and how suitable their dishes were for pre-school children.
The judges included Casterbridge managing director Paul Brosnan and the winner of last year's competition, Chris Hearn from the Elvetham Heath Nursery in Fleet, Hampshire.
They chose Yusuf Huseyin (pictured) from Footsteps Day Nursery and Pre-School in Farnborough as the winner for his chicken tikka and raspberry granita dishes. His prize was £300 in vouchers and a dinner for two at a restaurant of his choice.
Runner-up was Spencer Ward from Grena Road Nursery in Richmond, and third place went to Pat Jerrom, chef at Head Start nursery in Lewisham. The other finalists were Charlotte Wood from Nursery on the Green, Frimley, Surrey and Sorae Erimwonren from Dolphin Nursery in Kingston.
Mr Huseyin said, 'It's always nice to be appreciated. My winning dishes, which had already received the children's approval, 
will now be added to the group's summer menu.'
Paul Brosnan said, 'It is fantastic to see such high culinary standards among our own chefs. This competition is our way of celebrating these high standards of food and nutrition.'
