Rotary Young Chef 2025

For the first time ever, there has been a tie for this year's Young Chef competition at Wayland Academy. Our judges Michael Haythorpe and Paul Baldry were unable to seperate the entries of Alice Hare and Zuzanna Szot, so declared the competition a draw.

The two winners were invited to one of the Rotary Club's evening meetings, along with members of their families and their teacher Gaynor Evans, to celebrate their achievement and to be presented with certificates.

In announcing the awards Michael Haythorpe said the judges' task wasn't as easy as some might think. A good deal of food has to be sampled and given points for various aspects, such as presentation, taste and ingredients used. He mentioned that in an earlier round the judges had to work their way through 14 plates of scones, and place them in order of merit. It was some weeks before he felt able to face another scone.

For the competition final, contestants had to produce a main course meal and a dessert within a given time. Alice made a chicken and chorizo jambalaya followed by a deconstructed strawberry cheesecake parfait, whilst Zuzanna's entry was chicken stuffed with spinach, mozzarella and tomato, followed by chocolate and raspberry mini cheesecakes.