FutureChef champion revealed
Winning student with Brian Turner
Fifteen year old Luke Thomas from Connah's Quay High School in Wales impressed top celebrity chefs such as Lesley Waters and Theo Randall at the FutureChef final held at Westminster Kingsway College yesterday, beating off stiff competition from 11 other rising stars to win the coveted title.
The 12 finalists were tasked with cooking a main course and a dessert from a selection of ingredients which included English lamb, sea bream and risotto rice in just 90 minutes.
Thomas, who was mentored by Richard Brunetti at the Chestor Grosvenor, served up a mouth watering rack of lamb with creamed savoy cabbage, shallot tarte tatin and rosemary jus, followed by a dessert of double chocolate soufflé with orange and ginger confit.
The winning student said: "I am so chuffed to have won. I worked really hard to prepare for this. Everyone should enter FutureChef, just go for it!"
The aspiring young chef, along with the other 11 finalists, was under the watchful eye of judges Michael Caines, David Mulcahy, craft & food development director, Sodexo UK & Ireland, Matt Owens, executive pastry chef, Zuidam UK Ltd, Joe Queen, executive chef, Thistle Hotels, Steve Munkley, executive chef, The Royal Garden Hotel, Cyrus Todiwala, proprietor and executive chef of The Café Spice Namaste, and Bradley Johnston, FutureChef 2008 winner.
Mulcahy commented on the winner's performance: "Luke's confidence in the kitchen was amazing – he was so focused."
The well deserved winner won an all expenses paid trip to Rome staying at the prestigious Cavalieri Hilton, courtesy of Hilton, £500 cash, courtesy of City & Guilds, and a commemorative plate, courtesy of Steelite International.
Runner-up Kerry Davies, 14, from St Michaels C of E High School in the North West, walked away with a behind-the-scenes experience at one of Sodexo's most prestigious events – Royal Ascot. Also included will be work experience and dining at Exclusive Parade Ring Restaurant with transfer and accommodation.
FutureChef is organised by Springboard Charitable Trust.
Words: Maria Bracken
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