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With the competition focus on producing nutritious and delicious meals for 11-year-old primary or secondary school pupils, the SCOTY competition is the perfect showcase for passionate school chefs to demonstrate what they do best every day.

Competitors must use a minimum of one Premier Foods ingredient in both their main course and dessert. Judges were looking for innovative and creative ways that the competitor’s used the products in the finished dishes.

For his main course Mark cooked spiced chicken, turmeric flatbread, tomato salsa and garlic potato, spiced yogurt marinated chicken, garlic diced potato, red slaw, grilled turmeric flatbread and a tomato salsa. For dessert he created summer berry mille feuille, strawberry Angel Delight, caramelised pastry, raspberry dust, crème patisiere, strawberry cream.

The national final will be held at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th July at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Brad Pearce, chair of LACA, commented: “I look forward to the upcoming final and celebrating the winner at our Gala Dinner and Awards Evening. Good luck everyone!”

The 2023 national 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. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.

School meal providers can register for free entry to the School Food Show to watch the competitors in action.