FutureChef 2009

Jennie Atkin was named the school’s FutureChef winner. The year 10 student beat off competition from 16 fellow students to land the title. Jennie will now go forward to take part in the local final on 26th November producing a main course for two people within a budget of £4.00.
FutureChef forms part of Springboard’s high profile national school programme and is aimed at students 12-16 years of age. It was developed as a result of research findings into young people’s perceptions of the industry. The research revealed that young people regard chefs such as Brian Turner, Gary Rhodes and James Martin almost as highly as pop or television stars. Surprisingly, however, few genuinely considered a career as a chef!
It is based on a four staged, nationwide competition, and is designed to help young people learn about food and how to cook. It provides a unique insight into the world of professional cookery capturing imagination, recognising talent and providing a potential platform to launch a fabulous career in the industry.

Jennie’s winning dish was seabass with sesame, broccoli and rice with a lime and coriander dressing. Judges on the day were Miss Daragheh, subject teacher, Rob Gibson, a former student and now a chef at the Cottage, Tern Hill, Mr McStay, Assistant Head and Mrs Bloore & Mrs Hubbard both Grove Catering staff.

The winning dish.

                                                      Ms Daragheh and Rob Gibson, local chef.

“I was really pleased to be asked to be a judge in the FutureChef competition. The range of food prepared by the students was excellent and it looked and tasted as good too. The students were justifiably proud of their culinary skills and I was delighted to get the chance to taste their efforts! A very enjoyable experience.”  said Mr McStay, Assistant Head.
                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                 Marking time for the judges

           

     The year 10 group with their dishes.        

                                          

UPDATE

FutureChef 2010 Local Heat Information

The FutureChef 2010 Local Final for Telford and Shrewsbury was held at Grove School at the end of November.  This is the second heat of the nationwide competition organised by the charity Springboard and this time the candidates had to produce a main course and dessert for two people within a budget of £6.00.  Marks are awarded on a variety of culinary skills to include; creativity & presentation, menu balance, composition, taste & flavour and workmanship.

Springboard Regional Coordinator Shani Leavesley said “The FutureChef programme helps develop an interest in food and cooking as a life skill for young people, and also provides teachers and young people alike with a wonderful insight into what it’s like to be a chef.”

 Seven students competed in this round having won in their school heats.

Students attending were Lucy Evans 15  from Burton Borough School, Liam Taylor 14 and Jennie Atkin just 15 both from Grove School, James Ball and Gemma Haysed from Madeley High School, Jeska Dimmack 14 from Thomas Telford and Becky Weston 15 from North Bromsgrove School. 

 Becky was the eventual winner with pork loin wrapped in panchetta with carrott puree, potato rosti and green beans, but the standard was so high that two runners were announced, Jenny Atkin from the Grove and Jeska Dimmock from Thomas Telford received prizes of a pestle and mortar each.  (Jenny’s  dish was seabream with vegetables and rice with a lime and coriander dressing followed by a dessert of chocolate mousse with chocolate and cream.) 

 The two industry chefs judging the competition were:

Philip Kelly from HIT training who said, ‘I was very surprised at the level achieved for this age group.  I have worked with professional chefs who are not at that standard!’

Mike Bullard from VTP Training at University of Central Birmingham commented, ‘I agree, the standard of food was very good for this age.  The students had obviously done their homework and practised a lot and worked on their presentation skills.  All students were very keen and enthusiastic and showed some exciting potential. They should certainly consider a future in the industry.’

Miss Nooshin Daragheh, subject teacher from the Grove, who helped organise the event said. ‘The standard was very high this year, all students did really well.’

Well done to Liam who did really well at such short notice. (As runner-up in the school heat he was called forward to enter when there was a cancellation from another school) but our congratulations go to Jennie for achieving runner-up  which was a great achievement.