TWO Abergavenny chefs are among the first in Wales' leading pub company to achieve Triple A status.

Claire Barrell and Matthew Lewis from the Lamb and Flag in Llanwenarth are among the first chefs in the Brains estate to pass the Applied Ability Awards – an independent qualification for professional chefs. And it's double celebration for Matthew, who was recently crowned the Brains Pub Chef of the Year 2009.

The Triple A scheme was put together by the country's top chefs, with the aim of raising the skills of the chefs through on-the-job training and mentorship. It has already won the approval of some of the best restaurants in the UK, including Claridges Hotel and The Ritz, who have put several of their chefs through the scheme.

Arwyn Watkins, managing director of the training provider Cambrian Training, said, "Employers told us they wanted to address the skills shortage and chefs said they wanted to be able to benchmark themselves. With the cost of ingredients and energy increasing, the skills-set of the chef is a critical factor in an organisation's success."

Jill Matthews, head of catering at Brains added: "Today's marketplace demands diverse and interesting menus. Training of this type allows us to develop our chefs as well as our menus, which ultimately benefits our customers."