On Saturday 25th January at Les Quennevais School, with this year seeing a record entry seventeen students from Grainville, Jersey College for Girls and Les Quennevais schools be competing in the local final of the National Rotary Young Chef competition.

The object of the competition is for each student to devise a healthy three course menu for two people against a budget of £20. They will have to cook and present their food in two hours and it will be judged by a panel of catering professional judges including Andrew Baird Executive Chef Longueville Manor Hotel, Tom Radiguet Head Chef at Samphire, David Inwood Head Chef at Government House and Paul Wells Catering Manager at the General Hospital

As well as being judged on taste, presentation and kitchen hygiene the judging panel will also be assessing the students on their choice in supporting healthy eating.

The students will also be competing for the Jersey Dairy Trophy for the winner and the Genuine Jersey Trophy will be presented judged for the best use of local ingredients. There will also be additional prizes for the best main course and dessert not from the winner’s menu

With over 5,000 students from the UK entering the competition the winner of the local final will then go on to compete in the District Final in Waterlooville in Hampshire on 29th February where they will be competing against successful heat winners from Guernsey and the rest of the southern counties. From here the opportunity then presents for the winning chef to go on to the National finals in March

Bob Marshall of the Rotary Club of Jersey who has organised the competition commented “Once again Rotary are very pleased to be supporting the Young Chef, and with the competition. I’m very much looking forward to seeing, and tasting the results and wish all the contestants the very best of luck”

Once again, we are extremely grateful our sponsors Mercury Distribution and Jersey Dairy for their sponsorship and support.