Young Chef Competition 2015

The first round of the Rotary Young Chef competition was held at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School on Tuesday the 13th January 2015 with six young aspiring chefs taking part. The competition required the chefs to prepare, in two hours, a healthy three course meal comprising a starter, main and dessert courses for two people costing less than 15.

This year saw 2 two girls and four boys aged between 14 and 15 competing in what proved to be a very close contest. The menus prepared by the young chefs were varied, mouth-watering and challenging. The table layout and food presentation by all the contestants would not have been out of place in a Michelin starred restaurant. This gave the judge, Mr Harry McGann of Chartwells Independent currently serving The United World College at St Donats, a major headache in selecting a winner. After much deliberation Shannon Davies was declared winner with Ellie Jose a very close second, a reversal of last years equally close result. The boys, Luke Beattie, Oliver Conway, Robert Orchard and Declan Ellis were all highly commended by Mr McGann for the high standard of their work. The winning menu was: Cheese and Mushroom quiche starter, Chicken casserole with parsley biscuit as a main course and rounded off with a Christmas cake sundae, truly delicious! The Young Chefs teacher, Rachel Newbrook considered the competition an excellent way for budding chefs to show- case their talents and creative flare and she was delighted that they all did a sterling job under pressure in a very close competition. She was very proud of them all. Both Shannon and Ellie will represent Llantwit Major Rotary in the Area final to be held in Pontardawe on the 22^nd January 2015.

Rotarian President Mary Noyes thanked the young chefs and their teacher Rachel Newbrook for all the hard work done in preparation for the competition and wished the young chefs the best of good fortune for the future. Chef Harry McGann and Mr Ian Hunt of FILCO were also thanked for their generous support of the competition.

The Young Chef Competition is a well established and successful competition promoted by Rotary International in Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I) and is open to students in full time education between 11 and 17 years of age. It is a four-stage National competition to support and encourage development of cookery skills.