The Produced in Kent initiative to find the county’s most talented budding chefs, and get Kent’s young people cooking with local and seasonal ingredients, sizzled to an exciting conclusion as Thomas Perkins (aged 11) and Steven Yap (aged 16) lifted the Junior and Senior Kent Young Chef Award 2010 trophies at the electric Live Cook Off on Friday 26 November at Thanet College.
With the competition sponsored by Hadlow College, kff (Kent Frozen Foods) and Woods Restaurant, Produce Store & Bars of Tunbridge Wells, the youngest competitor in the finals 11 year old Thomas Perkins of Holmesdale Technology College, in Snodland won the Junior title for his original Gamekeeper’s Supper, made with pheasant caught locally by Thomas’s gamekeeper father. Thomas demonstrated an “unflappable style” that bowled the judges over to produce a “well seasoned and flavoursome dish that worked beautifully” using ingredients sourced from the ‘Garden of England’.
Commenting on his win Thomas Perkins said: “This is brilliant! It’s been such a tough competition with a really high standard of dishes so I’m absolutely thrilled to win! I love cooking and just feel so free when I cook. Kent Young Chef Award has been a brilliant experience and I think it’s really good for children and young people to be doing something like this.”
Sixteen year old Steven Yap of The New School at West Heath, won the Senior trophy with his technically outstanding Ballotine of Guinea Fowl & Duxelle Stuffing with Spinach Tagliatelle, Chestnut Purée, Mushrooms & Bacon, which the judges said was a “good all round dish with Autumnal flavours”.
Commenting on his win Steven Yap said: “Kent Young Chef Award has been a really good experience, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s great!”
The eight competitors cooked up their dishes in front of a live audience and the judging panel including celebrity chef Richard Phillips of GMTV’s Lorraine Kelly and BBC TV’s Ready, Steady, Cook fame; Claire Wood the talented head chef at Woods Restaurant, Produce Store & Bars in The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells; as well as Thanet College lecturer Sue George.
Judge Richard Phillips said: “It’s an honour to inspire these young people and to reinforce their enthusiasm and passion. It’s great to see such talent and flair come through in a competition such as Kent Young Chef Award.”
As part of their prize all eight finalists will visit one of Richard Phillips three restaurants in Kent (Richard Phillips at Chapel Down, The Hengist and Thackerays) to experience a taster day as a real chef. The Junior category saw the return of two of last year’s competitors Lana Foyle, of Ashford School and Alice Browning of St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School and newcomer Sophie Buck from Ashford School. In the Senior category Ryan Whiting and Ellie Smith competed from The Towers School & Sixth Form College in Kennington, alongside Alice Baddeley from Combe Bank School.
If you’d like to try one of the recipes at home go to the Produced in Kent website
Invite to Kent Young Chef Award Charity Dinner
Now the two 2010 winners will travel to Woods Restaurant in The Pantiles at Tunbridge Wells to design a three course dinner for the Kent Young Chef Award Charity Dinner on Thursday 20 January 2011. The glittering evening, which is open to anyone in the county to attend, will include a three course meal designed by Thomas Perkins and Steven Yap with head chef Claire Wood. The two award winning chefs will be treated as ‘guests of honour’ at the evening. Claire Wood said: “We’ve seen some wonderfully talented young chefs emerging from the Kent Young Chef Award competition and we’re really excited to give the people of Kent a taste of the two winners’ best ideas for this fantastic charity dinner. We’re also thrilled to be able to donate £5 from every ticket sold to the Kent Air Ambulance – so I hope lots of local fans of Woods Restaurant will book their place at this very special evening.”
To secure a seat at the glittering Kent Young Chef Award Charity Dinner call 01892 614411 or visit The Restaurant Website to book and pre-pay. The evening commences at 7pm with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine followed by a three-course meal for £25 and Woods will donate £5 to Kent Air Ambulance for every ticket sold.