Young chefs battle it out (From Andover Advertiser)

Young chefs battle it out

4:00pm Monday 20th October 2008

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WINTON School was filled with appetising aromas as competitors in the annual Young Chef contest battled for the honours.

Students from Harrow Way, John Hanson and Test Valley schools as well as the hosts, Winton, took part in the competition organised by Andover Rotary Club. It was the first round of a national Rotary contest to find the country’s best young cooks.

The students were asked to prepare a healthy starter and main course for two people within 90 minutes with a budget of £10. Apart from the taste of the food, contestants were marked on planning, kitchen practice and presentation. Two competitors baked fresh bread to go with their meals. Judge Peter Jeffries, head chef at The Mayfly in Chilbolton, said: “Bread is every professional chef’s nightmare, but these young cooks have done it brilliantly.”

Sharing the task of judging with Peter were Sarah Miles-Smith, recently head of catering at Andover College and now proprietor of Milestone Training, and Yvonne Sullivan, chef at Andover War Memorial Hospital.

“The standards of planning, hygiene, inventiveness and pure passion for cooking were astonishing,” said Sarah.

The winner was Ryan Baker of Test Valley School who presented a melon reviver and Baker’s signature chicken.

Rebecca Parker of Harrow Way was runner-up and her classmate Rebecca Dale won third prize. Prizes were presented by Julie Docherty of Brockmans Solicitors, who, with John Robinson of Stockbridge, sponsored the event.

Ryan and Rebecca will represent Andover in the next round held at John Hanson School on 6 November.

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