Students take part in National Rotary Young Chef competition

Students locked horns in the Bury St Edmunds heat of the National Rotary Young Chef competition at Westley Middle School.

Each of them produced a three-course meal for two in just two hours and the winner was Amy Whatling, aged 14 of Mildenhall. Runner up was Chloe Knappett, aged 12, from Westley School.

Pascal Canevet, chef proprietor of Maison Bleue Restaurant, in Bury St Edmunds, judged and advised the competitors and was assisted by Rotarian Val Ogden.

Amy will go through to the regional round of the competition to be held in King’s Lynn, in February.

Her winning menu was roasted goats cheese served with a sweet caramelised onion chutney, roasted salmon with baby carrots and asparagus, topped with hollandaise sauce, and for dessert a zingy lemon possett served with red berries.

Chloe had an Italian theme and made bruschetta, followed by pasta carbonara and a panacotta with homemade almond biscotti for dessert.

Pascal praised the students cooking skills, and excellent organisation and planning.