Local college students taste success

Jamie Baker and Taylor Redpath, who are both in Year 11, competed in the final of the ‘Kitchen Whizz Kids’ cookery contest against students from seven other schools from across Northern Ireland.

‘Kitchen Whizz kids’ is organised by the Mount Charles Group and is supported by Business in the Community. The highly competitive cooking competition aims to promote healthy eating and generate interest in the catering industry.

Over 100 pupils took part in the heats this year, before the best two pupils from each school went on to compete in the final.

The final, which took place at the Monkstown school, was judged by Mount Charles Group Senior Development Culinary Chefs Marcus Lemon and Brian Quinn.

Cathal Geoghegan, Managing Director of the Mount Charles Group, praised the pupils who competed in the final.

“The standard of cooking this year simply exceeded anything we’ve seen in this competition before. The flavours, the skill, the teamwork and the presentation from each of our finalists was just superb,” he said.

Principal of Abbey Community College, Maria Quinn, believes that the competition is beneficial to the pupils who take part.

“Kitchen Whizz Kids is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their confidence, refine their cooking skills and get an insight into the hospitality industry. The partnership between Mount Charles and Business in the Community in promoting and supporting the competition also helps to forge valuable links with schools and industry professionals as potential employers.

“As the host school Abbey Community College was able to showcase our excellent facilities and the expertise of our staff in this area,” she said.

Dervla Strong from Business in the Community’s Education Team added: “The schools were given a brief to create a healthy, locally sourced meal on a £7.50 budget in teams of two. The teams had one hour to whip up their meals, before a team of two of The Mount Charles Group’s most experienced chefs judged their efforts.”