Thas A Fact?

Nerves were on edge as the young attendees arrived in the product development kitchen at Poultec Training in Mattishall, to take part in an inaugural Young Chef Competition. The competition was part of Poultec’s events to celebrate the 2010 Norfolk Food Festival.

The Winning Young Norfolk Chefs 2010.

The judges, Martin Ponsford from the Kings Head Hotel in Hoveton and Paul Carter from INTO Norwich kicked off the ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ style competition with a few words of encouragement.

James Cunningham, a trainee chef for Gresham’s School dived straight in to find his ingredients and started by making a stock for his chicken, this was finished off with a white sauce and garnish.

Jessica Lowery, a student, made a traditional pan fried vegetable pasta dish.

Ben Pledger, an apprentice chef at Café Verde, prepared a chicken and pasta stroganoff with a creamy sauce.

The winner, Poppie Mann, a trainee chef from The Lodge in North Tuddenham, produced a vegetable couscous, topped with chicken, baby sweetcorn and carrots.

Winning Dish by Lodge Chef Poppie Mann.

In second place, Tom Harris, from South Green Park, started with a roasted Mediterranean vegetable couscous topped with pork chops and a creamy mushroom sauce, followed by pears poached in red wine.

In third place, Rachel Bradshaw, from Poultec Training, used chicken which encased a garlic and herb butter with spicy potatoes, followed by a plum crumble.

The judges were impressed with all of the dishes and had a tough decision to make with very few points between all of the contestants. Martin Ponsford applauded the young chefs, saying “…you should carry on with your future careers in catering”. “You can all have a job in my kitchen” added Paul Carter.

Prizes of chef knives, a cookery book and a voucher together with certificates were presented to the contestants by Edward Bales, Managing Director of Poultec Training.

The bar was set high at the first cook off to be held at Poultec Training, and left everyone with a taste for the competition next year.