TASTE buds were in for a treat last week when the finals of a contest looking for fresh cooking talent were held in Andover.

The final of the North Hampshire and Wiltshire Group of the Rotary Young Chef Competition were held at John Hanson School on Thursday.

Eight contestants from Test Valley, Harrow Way, Stonehenge, Avon Valley, Wyvern and Godolphin Schools, who had won earlier rounds, stepped up to the plate.

They were tasked with preparing a healthy and nutritious meal for two with an international theme, while staying within a £10 budget.

Aspiring chef Ryan Baker from Test Valley School took the top prize for creating a Caribbean dinner of Creole chicken with rice and a mango and pineapple mousse served in the pineapple.

Charlotte Hatton of Godolphin School, Salisbury came second by impressing the judges with her home-made ravioli filled with mushrooms, goat’s cheese and ham and a Sicilian chocolate pudding.

The winners received sets of oven and tableware from Le Creuset, which sponsored the event, and they will go forward to regional quarter finals in February.

The eventual winner of the national competition will win a day’s coaching by Jamie Oliver.

Judges for the event were Sarah Miles-Smith, the former head of catering at Andover College, Eileen Stainton, a home economics teacher and examiner and the Andover Advertiser editor, Joe Scicluna.