Two local students will represent Laois at the regional section of a Young Chef competition this weekend after coming through the Laois final this week.
The Laois final of the Rotary Young Chef took place in St Mary’s CBS in Portlaise on Wednesday evening with students from the host school and Mountmellick CS taking part.
Siobhan McEvoy from Mountmellick CS was the winner and Richard Mansworth from Portlaoise CBS came 2nd place and they both qualify to compete in the regional final in Athlone on Saturday.
Each student had to plan and design a menu, gather natural ingredients, prepare and cook a three-course meal with a budget of €20.
Aymar Gourdet – a former restaurant owner who now makes his own brand of sauces, chutneys and pestos in Portlaoise under the name Le Skinny Chef – was the judge.
Organiser of the event Andrew Cremin spoke to LaoisToday on how “it is a great experience for students that are interested in cooking” and hopes “it will be even more popular in Laois schools next year”.
The Rotary Young Chef Competition is being run by Rotary Club of Athlone this year and Regional Final is taking place this Saturday.
This competition aims to encourage young people to learn how to cook a healthy meal, develop their food presentation skills, consider food hygiene issues, develop organisational and planning skills and the ability to cope in a demanding situation.
The Young Chef Competition is one of five competitions organised by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. The others are Young Musician, Young Photographer, Young Writer, Youth Speaks and the Technology Tournament.
Check out photos below
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