Young Chef 2023

YOUNG CHEFS IN ACTION

There were eleven Year 10 students from QEGS and UCC taking part in the competition. The contestants had 90 minutes to prepare a two-course meal within a budget of £15. As always, the quality of the dishes presented to the judges was well up to the remarkably high standard of cookery we have come to expect from this event. So, the young chefs made it a tough task for the two professional judges:  Pat Russell of the Lake District School of Food and Wine, and Henry Wu the Head Chef at the Roundthorn Country House Hotel who had to choose the best two young chefs to go forward to the next round.

It was a closely fought competition, but the judges decided that the winners were Ainara Cowan and Eimhear McGrath. They were each awarded a retail voucher and the opportunity to go through to the next round.  All the contestants received thoroughly deserved certificates and cookery books to mark their participation in the competition.

Presenting the prizes, Rotarian Alex Buchan congratulated the contestants on their skill and commitment and said that supporting young people would always be a priority for Penrith Rotary.

The competing Young Chefs, seen here with the dishes they produced, were as follows:

QEGS

• Sophie Cantley
• Jay Palmer
• Eimhear McGrath
• Ainara Cowan
• Hannah Saudek 

UCC

• Elvie Clegg
• Phoebe Dixon
• Charlie Ferguson
• Bill Cooper
• Hayley Little
• Rosie Chadwick

In addition to their prizes the winners were treated to a day with Pat Russell at her Lake District School of Food & Wine where they were able to continue their development under Pat's expert guidance.

The picture below shows the two winners Ainara Cowan and Eimhear McGrath, along with Penrith Rotary President John Shorter who dropped in to say hello.