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Councillor Jack Coburn and Sophie Martin,
FutureChef Tayside winner. |
For the sixth time, Perth College UHI’s Gallery Training Restaurant hosted the local finals of Springboard’s FutureChef; a cookery competition which aims to help young people aged 12-16 to learn to cook.
Gifted pupils from three Tayside schools took part in the competition on Wednesday 11th January. Sophie Martin (13) from Arbroath High School; Mhari Miller (12) from the High School of Dundee and Rachel Ramsay (16) from Websters High School, prepared and cooked a hot main course and hot or cold dessert for two people within a budget of £6.
The young chefs were judged by those in the hospitality industry: Clive Lamb, Perth College UHI lecturer; Neil Mugg, Pastry Chef at The Gleneagles Hotel and Steven Craik, former Executive Chef at The Famous Grouse Experience. Guests included Kay Lamb, Economic Development Officer at Perth & Kinross Council and Councillor Jack Coburn representing Cittaslow Perth, part of the Cittaslow international network, who also presented the heat winner with a specially designed Cittaslow Perth Trophy as an additional prize.
The judges had the difficult job of choosing between the meals. Marks were awarded on a variety of culinary skills including creativity and presentation, menu balance, composition, taste and flavour and workmanship. After much deliberation, they selected Sophie Martin as the winner. Her menu consisted of baked lemon stone bass, cous cous, pak choi and curry dressing, while her dessert was a treat of passion fruit posset, coconut sorbet, line snap and pineapple confit.
Clive said: “Well done to all of the young chefs today. It’s very difficult to come into a kitchen you’re not familiar with and hit the ground running, so for the contestants to produce these superb dishes is highly impressive. The dishes all required very complex cooking skills and everyone clearly put a lot of thought into their creation.”
Sophie said: “I’m delighted to have won this competition. I sometimes watch Masterchef on television and enjoy experimenting with ingredients. It was very stressful but I’m now much more knowledgeable and confident in the kitchen and this gives me good experience for the future workplace.”
Carolyn Baird, Springboard Scotland Project Manager added: “This year is the twelfth anniversary of the FutureChef contest and it’s going from strength to strength. It provides teachers and young people alike with a wonderful insight into what it’s like to be a chef and the related career opportunities.”
Sophie will now go forward to the Scottish Final in Glasgow next month.
Photo:
Front: Councillor Jack Coburn presents a specially designed Cittaslow Perth Trophy to Sophie Martin, Springboard’s FutureChef Tayside winner.
Middle: Mhari Miller and Rachel Ramsay, FutureChef contestants.
Back: Carolyn Baird, Springboard; Ian Gibb, Perth College UHI and judges Neil Mugg, Steven Craik and Clive Lamb.