North West student crowned FutureChef 2010 winner

Sixteen year old Kerry Johansen from the North West has been crowned winner of FutureChef 2010.

Schoolgirl Johansen, who works with Sodexo on match days at Everton Football Club, beat off stiff competition and impressed a panel of high profile judges with her menu. Judges included Theo Randall, Cyrus Todiwala, Joe Queen and Lesley Waters and were led by head judge David Mulcahy of Sodexo.

The winning student said: "I practised my menu day and night! I've been really focused on winning this year."

Her winning menu, created from a basket of ingredients compiled by The Craft Guild of Chefs, included a main course of lamb three ways: pan seared rump of lamb, petit mustard shepherd pie, lamb scouse, pumpkin puree and buttered spinach, followed by a dessert of Navel orange and ginger soufflé with chocolate and orange sauce.

Johansen received a range of prizes including a grand prize donated by Hilton Worldwide of an all expenses paid trip to Rome staying at the Rome Cavalieri, part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection. She also received £500 cash courtesy of City & Guilds and a Titanium Chef machine from Kenwood. 

Johansen's school, St Michaels Church of England, will receive vouchers to the value of £350, provided by Bunzl Lockhart.

Runner up was Conor McLean from Central Scotland, followed by Charlotte Harvey and Rosie Smith.

The FutureChef 2010 National Final, held on 22nd March 2010 at Westminster Kingsway College, London, saw the culmination of a 12 month programme involving almost 8,000 12 – 16 year olds who have cooked their way through the four stages of FutureChef, gaining invaluable life skills and an insight into the industry along the way.

Words: Maria Bracken

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