Young Chef 2023 - Final Update

EIMHEAR CHAMPIONS LOCAL PRODUCE TO SCOOP THE TITLE AT THE ROTARY YOUNG CHEF NATIONAL FINAL.

The Rotary Young Chef Competition gives young people the opportunity to test their culinary skills against those of their peers. The competition is sponsored by Filippo Berio and the National Final was held at Alcester, Warwickshire on Saturday 29^th April. The six finalists came from all over the country from as far north as Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire to Southampton on the south coast. The North of England was represented by Eimhear McGrath of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith who had won through the local, county and regional rounds of the competition. Eimhear was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Penrith.

As in previous rounds, the Young Chefs had 2 hours to prepare a three-course meal for two within a budget of £22. Marks were awarded for time planning, choice of menu and costings of ingredients – as well as for the presentation and quality of their meal.  Eimhear’s meal featured local produce and started with seared Solway scallop on a green pea puree with a ham crisp, black pudding and pea shoots. This was followed by Moroccan spiced local venison loin served with cauliflower puree, crumbed Romanesco, spiced beetroot and braised shallots. Her dessert was ginger poached pear, with lime mascarpone, apple juice reduction and a cranberry and pistachio crumb.

The standard of meals produced by all the contestants was truly outstanding as was to be expected at a National Final. The two judges were Danilo Trozzi, Filippo Berio’s Head Chef, and Mark Williams an international, professional chef now working in Stratford-on-Avon.  The judges said they were extremely impressed by both the kitchen discipline and the professionalism of the Young Chefs, and that the standard of meals produced made it very difficult for them to choose the winners. But eventually they decided that the the Best Dish was that of Bronwyn Roche of Bourne Academy, for her excellent French Onion Soup, and the Runner Up was Sarah Smart from Mackie Academy, Stonehaven. But to great excitement, the judges announced that the Winner, and Rotary Young Chef of the Year, was Eimhear McGrath of QEGS, Penrith.

All the contestants were presented with a Filippo Berio goody bag and a Finalist’s certificate and the three winners each received a trophy. Eimhear’s First Prize consists of a two-day trip to the idyllic Toscana Saporita Estate in Italy to discover the secrets of Italian regional cooking. Eimhear and her Mum will be flown to Pisa, with 2 nights accommodation, the cookery course and a truffle hunt, all courtesy of Filippo Berio. A very excited Eimhear was accompanied by her parents, Sarah and Sean McGrath, her QEGS teacher Sheila Monkhouse, and supporters from the Penrith Rotary Club John Shorter, Jack Wilson and Alex Buchan.

The Penrith Rotary Club has an active programme of supporting our local schools, and runs several competitions of which the Young Chef Competition is one of the most popular.