02/06/06 - Taste of Grampian culinary competitons coming to the boil!

The finalists in the 2006 Taste of Grampian competitions for school pupils and cooks have just been announced as the final countdown to the June 10th event begins.

Catering for the up-and-coming generation will be the popular competitions for primary and secondary school pupils, while more experienced cooks will showcase their skills in the final of a WRI competition and the new Taste of Grampian School Cook of the Year competition.

The annual competitions for primary and secondary school pupils continue to grow in popularity while the addition of the Taste of Grampian School Cook of the Year competition has been met with a very encouraging response in its first year

Earlier this year, teams of four P5 to P7 pupils were invited to create a healthy packed lunch and entries from 13 schools who have reached the finals will be judged by celebrity chef Kevin Woodford of “Ready, Steady Cook” and “Planet Cook” fame during Taste of Grampian 2006.

Reaching the finals in the competition are groups from Tyrie, Foveran, Midmar, Barthol Chapel, Portlethen, Keithhall, Walker Road (Torry), Dunecht, Tullos, Luthermuir, Easterfield, Ordiquhill and Danestone primary schools.

Saturday, June 10th will also see the culmination of the secondary schools’ competition when six schools will go head to head in a live cook-off. The pairs of pupils will prepare two-course meals for an active teenager, with their efforts to be judged by local chefs Jeff Purves and Brian Mutch.

This year’s secondary school competition finalists will represent Peterhead, Meldrum, Inverurie, Mintlaw, Ellon and Alford academies.

The competitions for school pupils have again been sponsored by red meat promotion body Quality Meat Scotland. Both ventures aim to develop skills in research, presentation and budgeting as well as addressing food preparation and production skills, and hygiene and safety standards. In addition, both require the use of local produce.

QMS Director of Communications Louise Welsh said: “At a time of unprecedented interest in the link between what people eat and their overall health and well being we are delighted to support a competition which actively promotes positive messages to young people about the benefits of including red meat in a healthy, balanced diet.”

Sponsored by NHS Grampian, the new Taste of Grampian School Cook of the Year competition aims to build on Hungry for Success. Entrants were asked to prepare a nutritionally balanced two-course school meal, comprising main course and dessert, for an 11-year-old using produce from the Grampian region.

Competing at the live “cook off” final at Taste of Grampian will be Frances Thomson from Meldrum Academy, Lorraine Cowie from Macduff Primary School, Elaine Murray from Auchterellon Primary School and Anne Ruxton from Westfield Primary School.

Their efforts will be judged by Masterchefs of Great Britain chairman George McIvor and Senior Dietician with NHS Grampian Shirley Beattie. Compere for the event will be Jim Royan chairman of NHS Grampian.

Commenting on entries to the competitions, co-ordinator Laura Black said: “We are delighted with the very high number and standard of entries that we have received in the pupils’ competitions this year, and we are particularly pleased that many schools are entering for the first time.

“This is the first year of the school cooks’ competition, and the response we have received in this inaugural year is very encouraging.”

In addition will be the final of the popular SWRI culinary competition which, this year has asked entrants to create a graduation buffet. They too will demonstrate their skills on the day with George McIvor to choose one winner from finalists Sheena Kelly (Kincardineshire Federation), Michelle Paterson (Aberdeenshire Federation), Coleen Mackenzie (Banffshire Federation) and Anne Clark (Moray & Nairn Federation).

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