Master chefs cook up a storm at Warlingham School

Master chefs

The Craft Guild of Chefs school representative Matt Owens and culinary academy representative Bernhard Englehardt dished up a gastronomic master class to a group of Year 10 Food Technology students at this year's Warlingham Masterchef.

Hosted at the Warlingham School Food Technology department, the two award winning chefs demonstrated a variety of dishes; Apple strudel, fruit pizza, leek and potato soup, chicken kiev and broth, seafood pasta, butternut squash risotto with parmesan twists, salmon fishcakes with pineapple and lime salsa which the students had to replicate in teams of three in only one hour. 

The groups learnt to chop, blanch and prepare a whole chicken by removing the breast and leg portions, something that none of the students had done before.

Assistant headteachers, Steve Day and James Jackson had the task of tasting all of the final dishes. They presented the winners 15 year old Joe Blackwood, Reis Yildiz and Keiran McKenna who prepared the chicken kiev and broth with a prize and certificate. 

Mr Day said: "We have chosen these dishes as they ticked all the boxes.  The presentation, taste and texture are all excellent - even the seasoning is spot on.  Fantastic, and expertly prepared by the students."

Chef Matt Owens said: "It's great to be back at Warlingham School.  We are really pleased that this event engages young people and inspires them to want to prepare and enjoy good, wholesome, delicious food."

Englehardt added: "The real prize for us is finding out that previous participants of Warlingham Masterchef have gone on to catering college.  We are very pleased that this event impacts on the students and has had such a positive and lifelong effect."

This annual event is organised by Business & Enterprise and Food Technology teacher, Sue Powell in conjunction with the Craft Guild of Chefs representatives who give up their time to promote catering as a career choice, reinforce the benefits of healthy eating and support the school's Healthy Schools status.

The competition took place yesterday (11 June).

Words: Maria Bracken

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