For the first year we have entered students into the Essex Young Chef of the Year competition which is sponsored by Colchester Institute and Anglia Produce. A group of Year 9 students were asked to come up with a 2 course meal for 2 people that included local and seasonal food for under £15.

They had to write out their menu and explain in less than 100 words why they thought their menu would be suitable to be sold in a restaurant. Towards the end of last term we sent three outstanding entries Louise Lazell 10B, Rebekah Flint 10C and Elise Horsham 10B to the judges at Colchester Institute.

During the summer holidays the three students were contacted directly and I would like to congratulate Rebekah Flint and Elise Horsham who reached the finals. The final ‘cook off’ took place on Monday September 12 at Colchester Institute in their professional kitchens.

The four finalists were announced and included:

William Burges (Age 15yrs) William De Ferrers School, South Woodham Ferrers Rebekah Flint (Age 14yrs) Notley High School, Braintree Imogen Harris (Age 13yrs) Mayflower School, Billericay Elise Horsham (age 14yrs) Notley High School, Braintree

During the 2 hours ‘cook off’ they were filmed and interviewed. The winner was announced at a gala dinner on Monday 3 October at Braxted Park, Great Braxted. I am happy to report that Rebekah Flint won and is now crowned the Essex young chef of the year. Elise Horsham was a runner up.

At the awards evening, Rebekah received a beautifully designed plaque, a copy of the cooking finals DVD and a DVD of the awards evening, her photograph was in the Essex Chronicle Thursday 6 October. As we were unable to attend the finals I got the girls to practise their dishes here at school and you can see the extremely outstanding quality of the dishes that they produced.

I am so proud of both the girls and they have made an exceptional achievement for the school and themselves.

Miss K Ede