Young chefs from all over the country were welcomed by the sound of the Scottish bagpipes when they converged on Dundee and Angus College for the national final of the Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (RIBI) Young Chef Competition. The competition was won by 14 year old Tom Hamblet who was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Horsham. Tom won a trophy, a cheque from Filippo Berio for £250, a bag of Filippo Berio products and a cookery course at Toscana Saporita’s Italian Cookery School in Tuscany.
This year for the first time, the Craft Guild of Chefs marked the achievement of the young chefs by giving them a certificate allowing a year’s student membership of the Craft Guild of Chefs and a medal. Tom received a gold medal and the other seven chefs received silver medals.
Second place went to 16 year old Roxanne Ryan sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cirencester who won a trophy, a cheque from Filippo Berio for £150 and a bag of Filippo Berio products.
Third was 15 year old Lora Blackett, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Skegness who won a trophy, a cheque from Filippo Berio for £100 and a bag of Filippo Berio products.
This year the judges wanted to recognise a young chef by giving a special award for showing promise. The award was made to 17 year old Cliona McCarthy, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Navan who received a cheque for £50 and a bag of Filippo Berio products.
President of RIBI, Nan McCreadie said: “I would like to congratulate the winners and all the other finalists who are also winners as they have beaten 6,500 other young people to reach the finals. I would also like to thank Dundee and Angus College for their excellent hospitality and Filippo Berio for their sponsorship of the event.”
Tom’s winning menu was:
Seared scallops, mango, Jerusalem artichoke, brown butter and capers.
Roasted breast of Gressingham duck, bacon quinoa, char-grilled Wye Valley asparagus, morels and broad beans.
Ginger and honey cake, rhubarb, yoghurt, pistachio and almond.
Photo courtesy of Martin Boath.
