Victory for two school cooks in Kent Young Chef Award

Alice Browning in action

Alice Browning from St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School, Chatham, has been crowned the Kent Young Chef Award winner in the junior age group, meanwhile James Dye of Swan Valley Community School, Swanscombe has scooped the accolade in the senior category.

The final of Produced in Kent's prestigious Kent Young Chef Award took place last week. Sponsored by kff, the local food service supplier, eight students competed in the live cook off at the celebrated catering facilities at Thanet College.

The eight finalists, aged between 11 and 16, were given two hours to cook and serve their original main course recipes, all of which had to feature local and seasonal produce from the 'Garden of England'.

Browning produced a Romney marsh lamb with chocolate peppermint sauce made with chocolate peppermint leaves grown in her garden. 

She commented: "This is so exciting I can't believe it. I got really nervous at the beginning and end and it got very hot in the kitchen. But I just tried to keep a cool head and get on with what I had to do. Winning is so brilliant and I'm very happy!"

James Dye with Richard Philips and Neil Buchanan

Meanwhile Dye served up a herb crusted rack of lamb with bubble and squash served with Kentish double vision cider and redcurrant jus.

Danielle Connolly-Ratcliffe director of D&T of Swan Valley Community School, watched Dye compete with his parents and she said: "Swan Valley is incredibly proud of James's achievement and we plan to make quite a fuss of him next week at school. We passionately believe in vocational education. What Produced in Kent's Kent Young Chef Award is doing across the county with this competition is fantastic. The standard here today has been so high."

The two winners were presented with their awards and certificates and Richard Phillips, head of catering and hospitality at Thanet College, extended the winners' prize to spend an afternoon in his restaurant kitchens to all the finalists

 All the parents received a bottle of Chapel Down sparkling wine and the two winners walked away with a fabulous Produced in Kent hamper each. All the competitors received a certificate and branded aprons to take home, whilst all the finalists' recipes will be published on Produced in Kent's website on www.producedinkent.co.uk

Children's presenter of Art Attack TV show, Neil Buchanan, took time out to open the live cook.

Words: Maria Bracken

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