College Hosts Young Chef Team Challenge

City College Plymouth has helped Plymouth’s budding young chefs of tomorrow by hosting its annual Young Chef Team Challenge.

The competition saw local school teams, each consisting of three students preparing and cooking a three course meal for two using local produce.

Plymouth High School for Girls scooped the first prize for the second year in a row, with their menu of choux pastry stuffed with smoked mackerel pate on a bed of rocket, pesto stuffed chicken wrapped in pancetta served on a bed of parsnip mash with seasonal vegetables and a trio of chocolate served with a raspberry coulis.

Second place went to Sir John Hunt Community College and third place went to Devonport High School for Girls.

There was also a special prize in memory of Kathryn Williams, a former student of City College Plymouth, donated by her parents. This prize was awarded to Stoke Damerel Community College for displaying the best levels of team work.

Judges for the event included Chris Tanner of Tanners, Richard Hunt of the Grand Hotel Torquay, John Hooker of Browns Tavistock, Vito Dellanno of The Hayloft and Gavin Hobbs from the Copthorne Hotel.

Martin Nash, Head of Faculty for Business and Leisure Industries at the College said: “This is another great competition supported by local schools, food suppliers and employers.

“Each year the standards raise and the young chefs produce high quality food, showing plenty of culinary skills.”

Altogether 15 teams took part from seven schools including, Brook Green Centre for Learning, Dartmouth Community College, Devonport High School for Girls, Ivybridge Community College, Plymouth High School for Girls, Sir John Hunt Community College and Stoke Damerel Community College.