News

The final of the SCOTY competition will once again take place at the LACA Main Event on 3-4th July. The twelve school chefs will have 90 minutes to prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a total food cost of £1.60 per head that meet the School Food Standards and Eat Well Guide.

With the competition focus on producing nutritious, delicious meals for 11-year-old primary or secondary school pupils, now in its 30th year, the LACA School Chef of the Year competition is the perfect showcase for passionate school chefs to demonstrate what they do best every day.

Anita Brown, chair of LACA, said: “This wonderful competition is celebrating 30 fantastic years so Happy 30th Anniversary SCOTY!

"It is an amazing experience for all that take part, enabling our staff to showcase their amazing talent and a great opportunity to meet chefs from across the country on both the regional and national stages. It’s a massive chance to show what talent and innovative ideas our brilliant staff have. Best of luck to you all.”

At the national final, the 2024 national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2024 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.

The ten regional final winners are:

• East Midlands: Garry Finan from Corby Business Academy (Brooke Weston Trust); Asian soy and honey chicken skewers & citrus posset
• East of England: Aron Jordan from Doucecroft School; potato gnocchi with mushrooms, spinach, parmesan and tarragon & berry ripple cheesecake
• London: Katherine Ruffalls from Pinner Park Primary School; vegan bean and sweet potato chilli served in a taco bowl & Vegan/gluten free chocolate and avocado fudge brownie
• North East & Scotland: Richard Hardy from St Robert of Newminster Catholic School & 6th Form College; east meets west & slice of paradise
• North West: Paul Hardy from Taporley High School (Midshire Signature Services); Catalan roasted chicken and red pepper paella & Mississippi raspberry mud cake
• South East: Mark Kent from Norton Knatchbull (Impact Food Group); vegetable wellington, creamed potato, roasted carrots & glazed pear conde, blackberry gel
• South West: Paul Harris from Relief Chef (Cleverchefs); miso and honey chicken with vegetable okonomiyaki and pickled carrot and coriander & Mango Delice
• Wales: Duygu Dee Karakus from Cogan Primary School (Big Fresh Catering Company); Mediterranean lasagne with crispy garlic bread & Turkish delight inspired carrot balls with Birds custard
• West Midlands: Aaron Delaney from Fiveways King Edwards School (Sodexo); coconut stuffed aubergine in sharwoods curry powder with coconut dahl & pineapple upside-down cake with pineapple, caramel and lemon curd custard
• Yorkshire & Humberside: Kirsty McAndrew from Oakworth Primary (Midshire Signature Services); beef suet pudding, with Asian infused beetroot, carrot puree, duchesse potatoes and a thyme and balsamic sauce & caramel orange butternut squash sponge, chocolate ice cream, flapjack crumb, salted butternut squash crisp, strawberry coulis

Joining the ten regional finalist winners at the SCOTY national final will be two wildcards entrants, including:

• Wildcard from South West: Jennifer Brown Sarum Academy (OCS); easy like monday mornay & rhubarb and custard meringue tart with raspberry coulis
• Wildcard from Yorkshire & Humberside: Jody Iske from Queen Ethelburga's College; Quorn roulade served with roasted beetroot, glazed carrots, mini dauphinoise potatoes, spinach puree and vegetable gravy & tarte tatin

Visitors to the free-to-attend School Food Show at the LACA Main Event will be able to watch the live final taking place. The winners being revealed at the LACA Awards for Excellence dinner on the evening of Thursday 4th July. Find out more and book your places at the LACA Main Event.