LACA names the 9 school chefs advancing to Grab ‘N’ Go cook-off
Competitors are required to prepare cook and present four portions of a grab & go/breaktime savoury snack with a total cost per head of 80p. They will have 40 minutes of preparation and cooking time.
The live cook-off will take place at the Rational Development Kitchen in Bedfordshire on Wednesday 21st May. Three school chefs will advance to the final which is once again taking place at the LACA Main Event in the summer.
The winner will be given a demonstration slot on the LACA Live feature on Wednesday 9th July to showcase their winning dish. The overall winner will receive £500, plus a £500 set of Wüsthof professional chef’s knives donated by sponsor SchoolGrid.
Marks will be awarded for originality of the finished dish, ease of eating on the go, practicality of the dish in a school setting, how well the flavours and ingredients work together, variety of textures in the finished dish and whether it is appealing to look at.
The competition is open to all staff that hold a kitchen based post and who are involved in the daily preparation of students’ meals. Contestants may work in more than one kitchen as a mobile chef.
The nine school chefs competing in the live cook-off include:
- Garry Finan from Corby Business Academy (Brooke Western Trust): loaded cajun bean salsa nachos
- Paul Hepworth (Stir Food): sweet potato & chickpea filled cumin flat bread, kachumber salad & mint yoghurt
- Ulisse Di Benedetto, from London Screen Academy (Stir Food): vegetarian smoked arancini with crunchy rainbow salad and yoghurt, mint & lemon dressing
- Nicholas Scarrett, from West Hove Primary School (Caterlink): roast chicken dinner turnoverwith baked wedges
- Andy Lidster, from John Wallis CofE Academy (Impact Food Group): Vegan bao buns with pulled jackfruit
- Rebecca Moore, from Park Community School (Park Community School): hoisin chicken fajitas
- Lee Taylor, from Holy Family Catholic Primary School (Alliance in Partnership/Sodexo): onion bhaji waffle with a spiced chickpea chaat and yogurt, mint and coriander drizzle
- Nerinder Kaur, from King Edwards VI Aston boys (Alliance in Partnership/Sodexo): Ninz Twisted Tikka noodles
- Andre Alto, from Kings Norton Girls School (OSC Group Ltd): longganisa rice burger