YOUNG CHEF COOKS UP A PLACE IN THE ESSEX FINALS

Year 10 GCSE Food Technology student Elizabeth Babalola has earned herself a place in the Essex Final of Rotary Young Chef of the Year 2010 after winning the area heats hosted by Hassenbrook School, Specialist Technology College in Stanford le Hope this week.   Elizabeth Babalola, Dale Morgan Challis and Dean Gower represented Hassenbrook School in the event by preparing , cooking  and serving a three course, healthy meal suitable for two people, as economically as possible spending no more than £14.  A two hour cooking time was allowed with 30 minutes for setting up, which included table setting and organising the cooking area.

All three of our aspiring chefs created an array of delicious dishes but it was  Elizabeth who pipped her fellow cooks to the post with a winning menu of Chicken and Rosemary Skewers, Rice with Chinese Chilli Spiced Chicken Stew and Baked Cheesecake with a Raspberry Topping.

The competition is organised annually by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) and sponsored by Filippo Berio Olive Oil and aims to encourage young people to develop cookery skills, food presentation, healthy eating, organisation and planning and ability to cope in a demanding situation. 

Mrs Glenda Freeman, Teacher in charge of Food Technology at Hassenbrook School said, ‘The pupils were very nervous as they had not done anything like this before but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves and a high standard was shown. I would like to congratulate Elizabeth who got through to the next round and wish her every success in the Essex Finals.