Taste-tickling treats at the Young Chef heats
Published 29 Jan 2012 17:30
THE HEAT was on when mini-chefs cooked up a storm in the kitchen, creating all sorts of culinary delights for a duo of lucky judges.
Six students from Maiden Erlegh School battled it out in the local heats of the Rotary Young Chef competition on Wednesday last week, cooking up a two course meal for two people in less than two hours for just £10.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Loddon Vale, the hotly-fought competition was sponsored by Reading's only Michelin starred restaurant, L'ortalan, and the pressure was turned up an extra notch when senior chef Ian Swainson was invited to judge the winner alongside the former president of Loddon Vale Rotary Club, Martin Boyles, who also worked as the catering manager at Bulmershe College.
Mr Swainson said: "Having been asked to perform this role at very short notice I'm delighted I did because the students who are very young displayed some excellent skills and the dishes they produced were of a good standard - we had difficulty selecting a winner and runner-up."
The winner was Maiden Erlegh pupil Nathan Bailey, who served a tasty treat of seabass with tarragon-scented butter and brown shrimps, wilted spinach and soda bread, with cherry and almond tart for dessert. He was handed a £25 gift voucher from L'ortolan and a gold medal, while runner-up Ellen Willis took home a £15 voucher and the silver medal for her pan fried dab with a tangy salsa verde served with boiled potatoes and broccoli followed by mini molten chocolate cakes with a crème fraiche sauce.
All of the participants were presented with a certificate and Nathan will now compete in the regional heats on Saturday, February 25.
The national final will be held on April 21 at the WI Cookery School in Abingdon.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 30 Jan 12
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