Rotary Young Chef competition 2022

Six students from Waldegrave School and three from Twickenham School put on a wonderful display at the fourteenth local round of the Rotary Young Chef competition, kindly hosted, once again, by Waldegrave, on Monday,17^th October 2022. The covid pandemic had prevented the competition being held during the past three years, so it was really good to be able to hold it again.The competition is the first stage, in a five- stage National competition, with the prize for the eventual overall winner including an all-expenses paid holiday in Tuscany and a training day in a Michelin starred restaurant.

The competitors were tasked with preparing and cooking a two-course meal for two people at a cost of £15, within two hours. The students were judged on such things as planning, costing, healthy choice of dishes, neatness of work, hygiene, presentation and taste.and we are very grateful to the lead judge Thomas Rowlandson, head chef and joint owner of the excellent A.Cena restaurant in East Twickenham. 

Nicole B was the winner of the contest, with a delicious and very healthy menu, comprising a starter of vegetarian maki rolls with pickled ginger, wasabi & soy sauce. Followed by a main course of katsu curry, brown rice & pickled onion garnish. The desert course was paris brest filled with a crème patisserie and fresh blackberries.
Second place went to Sabaa Q with a starter of a spicy fruit salad with a silky creamy sauce. Her main course was spicy succulent grilled lamb mince, with a pillowy naan, served with a refreshing mint sauce and crunchy salad. This was followed by a desert course of delicate genoise sponge, topped with light whipped cream and aromatic fresh mango curd.
Both students are from Waldegrave and will now progress through to stage two of the competition, the District Semi final, which is to be held in January 2023. Further details are awaited from the organisers. 

Thomas commented that he was very impressed with the high standard and the emphasis on healthy food. He offered encouragement to the students, on the value in later life, of continuing to develop their culinary skills. 
A trophy for the winner, prizes and a participation certificate for each contestant, were presented by The headteacher of Waldegrave school Ms Elizabeth Tongue.

Our thanks, as always, to the warm welcome we received from Ms Tongue and her supporting staff team and also to Ms Sarah Bromly deputy head of Twickenham School, who accompanied and had coached the Twickenham Students.