KENT YOUNG CHEF SENIOR WINNER TRIUMPHS IN FUTURECHEF NATIONAL FINAL
Senior winner of the Kent Young Chef award, Kieran Jones, from Homewood School, Tenterden came third in the Springboard, FutureChef National Final on Monday 27th March 2017. The competition sees over 9,000 12 -16 years olds from across the UK compete yearly, with a number of prior rounds before the twelve regional champions went head to head in a cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College.
The winner, Katie Cooper, aged 16 from University College Birmingham, has been entering the competition for the past three years and was delighted to finally take first place. Second place went to 14 year old Amy Campbell from Scotland with Kieran Jones, aged 15 taking a close third place.
Brian Turner OBE, FutureChef Chairman, added: “It has been a fantastic day and it’s good to see so many dedicated young people with so much talent. Thanks must also go to teachers and mentors who make such a great contribution to the success of the event. Katie is a great winner.”
The twelve young cooks had two hours to prepare and cook a hot main course and hot or cold dessert for three people. The ingredients for the dishes were provided by FutureChef organisers, in order to give each of the budding chefs a level playing field and for the judges to determine placings based on execution, taste, skill and their attention to detail. The featured main course ingredients were pork ribs, sea bass or Ragstone cheese for a vegetarian option. The contestants then choose up to twelve additional items including fruit and vegetables plus, unlimited access to key larder items.
Charlotte Fife from Invicta Girls Grammar School in Maidstone also took part in the Kent Young Chef competition in November organised by Produced in Kent, and was representing the South East at the Final.
Kieran’s mentors, Will Devlin, Head Chef, at The Windmill, Hollingbourne and Fabien Couchoron from The Red Lion in Charing Heath, where Kieran works at the weekends. Both were there to support him together with mum and dad Sue and Graham Jones.
Charlotte was mentored by Lewis Jackson chef at the Mulberry Tree, Boughton Monchelsea who was also present at the finals together with Charlotte’s mum Wendy Fife. A large group of Charlotte’s school friends from her catering group at Invicta Grammar school were also there to support her.
Both Kieran and Charlotte chose to pan fry sea bass. Kieran served his with cauliflower three ways and buttered spinach, whilst Charlotte made caramalised cauliflower puree and fondant potato. Both young cooks chose raspberries for their second course; Kieran made a raspberry meringue tart with a raspberry puree and Charlotte made a dark chocolate fondant accompanied by fresh raspberries and a vanilla cream.
Chief Judge, David Mulcahy, Culinary Director of Sodexo UK, was delighted to announce the winners of the 2017 competition. David said “The quality of the competition improves year on year and provides a good base for apprenticeships in the industry for the future”.
Sodexo, major sponsor for the competition, provides the winner with a unique opportunity to join them for a behind the scenes visit to Ascot. This year’s winner Katie Cooper will work with top chefs at the prestigious venue whilst her parents enjoy a tour of Eton College. Katie and her parents will then enjoy Ascot’s full hospitality and a night in a local luxury hotel.
Kieran and Charlotte received £100 cash prize presented by the Worshipful Company of Cooks, embroidered aprons, commemorative plates and chefs jackets.
When he was announced in third place Kieran said “I am delighted and absolutely shocked to have been placed third at my first attempt here and it feels like it’s a first! I was happy with everything I cooked and it has encouraged me to continue entering and aim for first or second next time. It has been the best ever stepping stone for me and Will and Fabian have been the best mentors I could have hoped for. They’ve been amazing”
Charlotte was disappointed not to be placed, but said “It had been a great experience and I will definitely aim to be back next year. It has given me so much practice and I’ve learnt a lot from the judges initially at Dartford, particularly about the type of pasta I used which changed the dish I did at Orpington. It was more challenging having a pre-selected basket of produce to use and all the stages of this competition have been different presenting new challenges along the way. My mentor Lewis Jackson from the Mulberry Tree has been amazing and I couldn’t have done this without his support”.
Stephanie Durling, Manager of Produced in Kent, who are the organisers of the Kent Young Chef Award that has been running for eight years, said “We would like to congratulate Kieran and Charlotte on their achievement. It was great to have two of the Kent Young Chef 2016 finalists in the National Final of the SpringBoard Future Chef competition 2017. The fact that two of our competitors qualified out of the possible twelve places available was a great achievement, and underlines the high standard coming through our own award. These two youngsters were so calm and organised and produced great dishes for the judges. They both have time to enter Kent Young Chef again before they reach 16 and this could once again give them the opportunity to be back in the FutureChef competition next year. “
Produced in Kent is a trade organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting food, drink, products and services in Kent. It provides vital business support, advice and sales opportunities to a diverse range of businesses that are at the economic heart of Kent’s rural communities. It is a not for profit organisation working in partnership with Kent County Council and Hadlow College supporting the Kent Economy.
Kent Young Chef Award Sponsors include HIT Training, kff, CCS, Rowhill Grange and Aford Awards
For more information about the Produced in Kent Young Chef Award www.producedinkent.co.uk/kent-young-chef/ or email stephanie.durling@producedinkent.co.uk
Images available on request from Gill Collins, Ether Creative Ltd, gill@ethercreative.co.uk, 01622 600276/07720376321
