Mountbatten school pupils, Beata Dunne and Emily White, have triumphed in a regional cookery competition held between secondary schools in Hampshire and West Sussex.
In total, eight top young cooks aged between 12-14 years from Hampshire and West Sussex battled it out at the finals to become The 2012 Create and Cook competition champions. With ingredients from the South Downs and Sussex coast, Hampshire’s chalk-fed streams, farms and fruit orchards, all the young cooks had designed menus which showcased their region’s local produce, which is the focus of the Create and Cook Competition. The final was held at Newlyns Farm Cookery School near Hook.
The winning duo, Beata and Emily from The Mountbatten School in Romsey wowed the judges with their delicious Rosary goats’ cheese and red onion tart followed by a crème brulee with homemade shortbread and berries. Phil Ponsonby, Chief Operating Officer for Food Retail at the Southern Co-operative, which sponsors the competition said: “It was very difficult to judge as the standard from all schools was so high but on the day, Emily and Beata were our overall winners as their menu was cooked to perfection.”
Competition organiser Min Raisman from fit2cook food education added: “Beata and Emily showed a real understanding of the importance of using local ingredients in their dishes and the local flavours shone through. With over 20 secondary schools entering the competition Beata and Emily should be very proud of what they achieved”.
Beata and Emily won £1,000 for their school food technology department, a framed copy of their recipes which have been professional styled and photographed and a master class with Executive Chef Andy Mackenzie, one of the founders of the competition, in his kitchen at Lainston House Hotel near Winchester. “I am always heartened to discover new, fresh culinary talent and I look forward to welcoming Beata and Emily to Lainston to share some of my skills with them” said Andy.
Download all the finalist’s recipes at www.fit2cook.co.uk. The Create and Cook Competition is sponsored by The Southern Co-operative and supported by Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fare, Hampshire Farmers’ Markets, Newlyns Farm Cookery School and Eastleigh College.
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