Young Chef 2023 - UPDATE!

Culinary Excellence from Penrith School.

The Rotary Young Chef Competition gives young people the opportunity to test
their culinary skills against those of their peers. Following their success at the
local round of the competition, Eimhear McGrath and Ainara Cowan, both Year
10 students at QEGS, progressed to the Rotary District round. This was held at
the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge on Thursday 9 th February and attracted
entrants from around the County who, like Eimhear and Ainara, had won
through their local heats of the competition.
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. This annual event always generates lots of excitement and the meals
produced are usually of a very high standard. This year was no exception, with
really high class meals being presented by all the young contestants including
Eimhear and Ainara who did themselves proud with the meals they produced
on the night - but there could only be one winner.
The competition was judged by Steven Doherty (Chef and Consultant) and Paul
Waring (Senior Chef Lecturer at Kendal College) who awarded Eimhear
McGrath First Place for her excellent meal. She started with a prawn cocktail
accompanied by homemade mayonnaise - flavoured three ways and crispy
bruschetta. Her main course was locally sourced loin of venison, perfectly
complemented by creamed cauliflower, roasted beetroot and shallots and
crispy Romanesco cauliflower nuggets. To round off the meal Eimhear
presented a poached pear with a caramelised reduction of apple juice and
mascarpone cheese. Eimhear received a retail voucher and all the contestants
each received a certificate and a goody bag to mark their participation.
Eimhear will now progress to the next round of the competition when
contestants from all over Cumbria and Lancashire will vie for the honours and
the opportunity to go through to the national final in April 2023. President
John Shorter said that the Rotary Club of Penrith puts great store in supporting
our young people and will continue to sponsor Eimhear throughout the rest of
the Young Chef competition.