St Albans pupil wins Rotary Young Chef bake-off competition

This year's competition, run by the Rotary Club of St Albans Verulamium, was held in November at Oaklands College.

Competitors took part from St Albans High School for Girls, The Samuel Ryder Academy, Marlborough Science Academy, Beaumont School and Roundwood Park School.

This competition is the first heat in the national Rotary Young Chef Competition, which is open to young people age 11-17 in full time education.

The competition is designed to help children and teenagers develop their food presentation skills and gain experience in high pressure situations.

The St Albans competitors, all aged between 11 and 14, had the task of preparing and presenting a two-course meal for two people in the space of 90 minutes, and with a budget of £17.50.

Taking first place was Nia Davis, from St Albans High School for Girls, who impressed the judges with a tasty menu of chicken and spring onion gyoza followed by a main course of beef teriyaki noodles, all prepared with a budget of £12.

The second place contestant was from Beaumont School, and presented wonton noodle soup followed by lemon and lime cheesecake, while third place went to Mia Best from Roundwood Park School in Harpenden, for a main course of ceviche patacones with rice and broccoli, followed by a dessert of French meringue with vanilla cream.

This year the competition was judged by Paul Wood and Martin West from Oaklands College, and Liz Marcy from St Albans District Council.

Trophies were presented to the winners by Mayor Cllr Geoffrey Harrison, who praised all the competitors for their mouth-watering presentations.

The competition takes place annually, and after winning the St Albans round Nia will progress to the next stage of the competition, which will be held in Hitchin in February.

After the district finals, winners will be entered into the regional finals in March, with the national final due to take place at the end of April.