FutureChef Local Finalists

Posted at 9:02 am on 3rd December, 2024

Year 10 Student Compete in Cooking Competition

Congratulations to Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students, Laurie and Marco, who reached the Springboard FutureChef Local Final on 26th November 2024. 

Our chefs qualified for the competition after passing the first challenging stage in the competition and were then challenged to create a menu and practice their dishes ready to tackle the next stage of the competition. 

With an emphasis on workmanship, creativity, taste and flavour and presentation, the Local Final challenged the competitors to prepare, cook and serve a main course dish for two people within a budget of £5 for both portions. The dish had to be personal to them and reflect their personality or background.

     

Marco’s dish ‘Materana’ was in honour of his Italian heritage and included his very own tagliatelle, which he prepared, dried and cooked at the competition. The dish also included nduja, peas and mushroom in a spicy, creamy sauce. 

Laurie created ‘Land of Ice and Fire,’ a nordic take on traditional fish and chips inspired by his recent school trip to Iceland and also because he lives near the Brook Road chippy.  He included smoked haddock, spiced beetroot puree, pommes parisienne, cucumber and fennel salad and a homemade tartar sauce using Skyr yoghurt.

Both Laurie and Marco stepped up to the challenge, practiced at home and performed brilliantly on the day. Unfortunately, there was only one point difference in the winning score and Wellacre will not move on to the Regional Finals. 

      

Mrs Ashburn, Teacher of Food, Cooking and Nutrition, said:

“I am so proud of Laurie and Marco; they qualified for the Local Final, above all of the other Year 10s, due their dedication to the new Hospitality and Catering course at Wellacre. They practiced their dishes at home and their dedication and commitment showed in the quality of the food they presented! A judge commented that their technical skill was excellent, especially for their age.”

The competition provided an opportunity for Marco and Laurie to cook in an industrial kitchen setting at Trafford College, a new and unfamiliar environment but both showed exceptional confidence. They also used professional equipment such as a French Top (a large flat cooking stove). 

Mrs Sharrock, Principal, said:

“Both students have made us really proud. The ambition, creativity and technical skills involved in both dishes are evidence of the boys’ passion. Well done Marco and Laurie.”