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The LACA School Chef of the Year competition, which is sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods, asks chefs to prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a total food cost of £1.60 per head in 90 minutes that meet the School Food Standards and Eat Well Guide.

The winner of each of the nine regional finals will receive £100 and advance to the national final alongside two other wildcards.

The national final will be held at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th July at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. The 2023 winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2023 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events.

Sarah Robb, foodservice marketing manager at Premier Foods said: “LACA School Chef of the Year has been one of the highlights of the school catering calendar for many years and so we are excited that Bisto is sponsoring the event this year. We’ll be supporting and celebrating the chefs who get involved throughout the process and can’t wait to be part of the judging panel to help find the next star of school meals.”

The SCOTY regional finalists include:

East Midlands Region, Wednesday 10th May 2023, First Choice Kitchen, Cannock:

• Lorna Nolan, Derbyshire County Council - Breadsall Primary School

East of England Region, Tuesday 23rd May 2023, Premier Foods St Albans:

• Wayne Charlton, Culinera  
• Brenden Eades, Felsted School

London Region, Wednesday 25th May 2023, Premier Foods St Albans:

• Raheem Morgan, Chartwells
• Anna Narloch-Bryan, Juniper Ventures
• Angela McCurry, Nourish Contract Catering - The Pride Academy
• Terry Howard, Radish All Good - Monega Primary School

North West Region, Thursday 11th May 2023, First Choice Kitchen Cannock:

• Matthew Bennett, Aramark - Alsager School
• Rose Simpson, Lancashire County Council
• Paul Hardy, Midshire Signature Services - Tarporley High School
• Sophie Dawson, Rochdale Council (Fresh Kitchen)

South East Region, Thursday 25th May 2023, Premier Foods St Albans:

• Mark Kent, Norton Knatchbull
• Emma Barnes, Emma's Kitchen
• Arkadiusz Aoun Kosiacki, IFG Innovate Services/Bilingual Primary School
• James Noakes, Maidstone Grammar
• Alex Moody, Park Community School
• Dayn Kruger, Culinera

South West Region, Monday 17th April 2023, Weston College Weston Super Mare:

• Jennifer Brown, Academy, part of Atalian Servest
• Kaya Adalier, CleverChefs - Blaise High School
• David Racibowski, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust
• Natasha Watts, Strode College Catering/Crispin Academy

Wales Region, Wednesday 10th May 2023, First Choice Kitchen Cannock:

• Tracey Blackmore, Caerphilly County Borough Council
• Joanne Cox, Chartwells - Ysgol Y Graig

West Midlands Region, Wednesday 10th May 2023, First Choice Kitchen Cannock:

• Lee Taylor, Academy, part of Atalian Servest
• Leim Prince, Aramark - Tewkesbury School
• Andrew Polymniou, Chartwells - King Edwards VI Aston

Yorkshire and Humberside Region, provisional date and location of regional final – Tuesday 16th May 2023, Barnsley College:

• Becky Crossley, Danesgate Community Primary School
• Kirsty McAndrew, Midshire Signature Services - Oakworth Primary School

School catering providers can register for free entry to the School Food Show, taking place alongside the Main Event this July and see the SCOTY finalists in action on 5th and 6th July.