Winner of schools cooking competition crowned at UHI Inverness

The final of an annual cooking competition for local secondary school children reached its conclusion at UHI Inverness this week when Charlie Inglis from Inverness Royal Academy was judged to be the winner.

Four of the top young cooks from Inverness and the surrounding area went head-to-head in the final of a local schools cooking competition held at UHI Inverness last night (Wednesday, 6 November).

After several heats, a semi-final and the final itself, Charlie was crowned the local Schools Master Chef champion. The final involved the school pupils cooking a two-course meal with a maximum budget of £10.

The final four young cooks were judged by established local chefs in earlier rounds across a total of seven schools who took part this year. They included Charleston Academy, Dingwall Academy, Fortrose Academy, Inverness High School, Inverness Royal Academy, Millburn Academy and Nairn Academy.

The competition is sponsored and funded by Williamson Foodservice and the final was attended by around 50 parents, teachers, judging chefs and others who have been involved in this year’s competition that is organised and co-ordinated by the Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden. Past winners have gone on to represent the area at regional level.

Food writer and founder of Kinloch Lodge Hotel in Skye Lady Claire Macdonald and renowned chef Sean Kelly from the Station Road Restaurant at The Lovat in Fort Augustus were the judges for the evening.

Gary Williamson from Williamson Foodservice said:

“The judges had a tough job this year as the quality has been of a high standard. It is very satisfying that schools, UHI Inverness, local chefs and ourselves as food and drink suppliers all come together to help young people understand more about the food they eat. This provides a fantastic platform for them to consider hospitality or the wider food and drink sector as future career paths.

“I am again very grateful to all the chef judges who have taken part this year but a special mention must go to the teachers who embrace the earlier rounds. We are also indebted again to the local Rotarians for the slick organisation of the whole competition as well as to UHI Inverness for the terrific facilities they provide for the final each year.”

Duncan MacDonald from the Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden said:

“The interest in this year’s competition has been very impressive by both the number of schools taking part and the wide age range of pupils who have delighted us with their food creations.”

Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Inverness Professor Chris O’Neil said:

“It is a pleasure for us to host the final once again and to welcome such talented young finalists into our training kitchen - congratulations to you all! This competition is a wonderful opportunity for all those who took part, and I hope it will encourage them to pursue their passions as future cookery students and professionals.”

UHI Inverness Professional Cookery lecturer Saurav Kumar supported the event by judging the preliminary rounds as well as supervising the young chefs during the final itself.

The finalists were Charlie Inglis and Caspian Kingham both from Inverness Royal Academy, Milan Matheson from Inverness High School and Jasper Thomas from Fortrose Academy.

Issued by Williamson Foodservice