Les Amis Mastercook is a culinary triumph

Wednesday 15 April 2015

The cooking skills of Les Amis residents has come under the expert scrutiny of two of the Island's top chefs.

The second Les Amis Mastercook competition was held at Highlands College. 13 residents teamed up with students at the college's Academy of Culinary Arts to create two dishes that were then tasted and judged by Michelin-starred chef Mark Jordan and academy manager Eileen Buicke-Kelly.

The Mastercook competition was held as part of the Les Amis’ 40^th birthday celebrations. The charity, which opened at Five Oaks in 1975 and now supports 80 Islanders in 30 houses and flats around the Island, provides essential services to meet the needs of those with learning disabilities – including Down’s syndrome and autism - and/or associated conditions.

The residents and students were challenged to make a spaghetti carbonara and chocolate brownie. After two hours of furious activity, the two judges announced that, as the quality of dishes was so high, everyone was a joint-winner.

‘It was absolutely brilliant,’ said Les Amis resident Justin Burrows afterwards. ‘I haven’t cooked that much before – I help my mum and dad a bit in the kitchen but now I want to help them a lot more.’

Mr Jordan, who is head chef at the Atlantic Hotel and also runs his own restaurant at Beaumont, said that the standard of cooking had been exceptional.

‘Their dishes really were delicious and I would have happily served them in my restaurants. The enthusiasm and spirit was just infectious and it has been a really positive experience for everyone.’

Other events to celebrate Les Amis' birthday include a performance by a visiting theatre company whose members all have learning disabilities and a summer Downton Abbey ball at Samarès Manor on 18 July.