Young Chef of the Year 2019/2020

Abi Rogers, 14, of Robertsbridge Community College is the winner of Senlac Rotary’s Young Chef of the Year competition. The competition which was held at Robertsbridge Community College on Friday, 29th November saw five aspiring chefs, all from the college, cooking a three course meal in what proved to be a very close contest. Abi’s menu of Baked mushrooms stuffed with ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, Chicken Kiev with a side of green beans and new potatoes followed by Honey cheese cake was awarded the accolade by the tiniest of margins over the meal prepared by runner up Connie Blackmore, also 14. The judges, Chris Folley who also organised the competition and Hazel Sheppard, were very complimentary of all of the competitors,” The standard was exceptionally high for people of your age and the results so close”, said Chris, “We would have happily eaten the meals you prepared if they were served in any restaurant. You can be proud of what you have achieved.” Winner Abi was somewhat surprised, “Everything went wrong at the start. I put the food in the oven and then the oven switched itself off and I found my meal not cooking. I’m very pleased I won but I didn’t expect it.”

Abi’s meal will be prepared in the restaurant at East Sussex College, Hastings, and served to members of Senlac Rotary and their guests including Abi and Connie and their parents at a special club meeting in January.

The Rotary Young Chef Competition is a well-established and successful competition organised and promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland and sponsored by Filippo Berio. Abi, the winner of this local heat, will be cooking in the District Final to be held in Orpington on 1st February and the winner of that round will progress to the next.

The Rotary Young Chef Competition is a well-established and successful competition organised and promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland and sponsored by Filippo Berio. It is a four-stage national competition to support and encourage development of cookery skills. Some stages may have more than one round.

This competition aims to encourage young people to:

•   Learn how to cook a healthy meal

•   Develop food presentation skills

•   Consider food hygiene issues

•   Develop organisational and planning skills

•   Develop an ability to cope in a demanding situation