Rotary Young Chef: March 2008

This year’s North District Final of the Rotary Young Chef Competition was hosted by Guildford County School. The competition, which was organised by Chris Blow, a member of the Guildford Rotary Club, and Giovanni Fontebasso from Cranleigh Rotary Club, was open to school students under the age of 16 in the Godalming-Cranleigh-Horsham area. Nine schools in Surrey and Sussex took part.

Each competitor had two hours to prepare, cook and serve a three course meal for two, based on a limited budget.

The winner was Luke Selby from Steyning Grammar School, and the runner-up was Katy Gunter from Guildford County School. Luke won over the judges with his delicious menu of smoked haddock ravioli in a cream sauce, followed by breast of duck with glazed shallots and a spicy sauce, and concluding with a dessert of berries and hazelnut shortbread in layers.

The competition was judged by David Marriott, from the Surrey Division of the Craft Guild of Chefs, and Tony McCauley of the Army Catering School. The prizes, donated by Rotary International, were presented by Mike Nevis, Mayor of Guildford, and Alan Knight, Rotary District Governor.