Debbie Worsley cooked up a storm to retain her crown in the Cheshire East heat of the School Chef of the Year.
A scrumptious summer berry Charlotte with fresh vanilla egg custard and a fantastic caramelised pork and apricot grill with sweet potato rosti and mint pea pesto were the recipe for repeat success for the catering supervisor at Warmingham Primary, Warmingham.
Debbie scooped first prize with her tasty menu themed around local seasonal produce.
After the competition she said: “I tried very hard to come up with all the right criteria to win this competition following my experience last year and am delighted that my menu has been chosen.
“I am looking forward to representing Cheshire East again and very much hope my menu is good enough to win the North West heat in January.”
The annual School Chef of the Year competition is organised by the Local Authorities Catering Association (LACA). The contest is open to all kitchen-based staff employed by organisations that are full members of LACA and are involved with the daily preparation of school meals.
The menus must put the preparation, cooking, creativity and presentation skills of school chefs to the test with each entrant producing, in just one and a half hours, a healthy and balanced two-course meal that would appeal to 11-year-olds.
The menus must also include some regional and seasonal (for the May/June final) ingredients and products by Nestlé, who sponsor the event. It also has to contain 2oz of protein, a carbohydrate and a fruit and vegetable and 150gm of calcium – and be presented on an appropriately-decorated table.
Two 11-year-old pupils from Vine Tree Primary helped with judging, along with a dietician from Leighton Hospital, a chef from South Cheshire College and a LACA member.
A maximum of £1.35 is allowed for the main meal and dessert for one child.
Judging is based on eight strict criteria that range from flavour and presentation to the ability to replicate the dishes en masse in school.
Cheshire East Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “We are fortunate and proud in that we have such imaginative, creative and highly-skilled school chefs in Cheshire East, who are well able to compete nationally for this prestigious title.
“Cheshire East has been at the very forefront when it comes to national nutritional standards. The quality of the food served in our schools is very high and this is shown by the increasing popularity of school meals.”
The other entrants in the Cheshire East heat were:
Julie McKenzie, catering supervisor, Dean Valley Primary, Bollington, Macclesfield
Sue Gould, catering supervisor, Sound and District Primary, near Nantwich
Sue Gilbert, catering supervisor, Hungerford Primary, Crewe
Michelle Lucas, kitchen assistant, Beechwood Primary, Crewe
Cheshire East serves 17,000 school meals each day.
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