The competition is the flagship event for school chefs to showcase their professional skills. It has been organised annually for over two decades by LACA (Lead Association for CAtering in Education) and is sponsored by MAGGI Professional from Nestlé Professional.
The dishes of many of the finalists have been inspired by cuisine stretching from the Americas to Europe, Asia and the Far East.
Chair of the 2016 National Final Judging Panel is Justin Clarke, Food Development Chef for MAGGI at Nestlé Professional. Also on the National Final Judging Panel is a professional chef judge (Christopher Basten, Chairman, Craft Guild of Chefs), an education catering professional (Jacqui Webb, LACA), a leading dietitian (Jasmine Challis, British Dietetic Association), the 2015 LACA School Chef of the Year, Kate Davies from Wales and an 11 year old boy and girl from a local West Midlands school.
Peter McGrath, LACA National Chair said: “LACA School Chef of the Year is a fantastic way of showing why every school should be striving for a high quality school meals service.
“When the Government brought in Universal Infant Free School Meals in England in September 2014, it was, at last, a real acknowledgement of the pivotal role school meals can play in laying the foundations for children’s future eating habits and their long term health.
“Our front line catering teams have been critical to the process of driving forward these improvements as well as educating young people about how food and eating better can help them achieve more both academically and physically.
“Not only do they prepare tasty and imaginative dishes to tempt discerning taste buds but also nutritious meals that can make a major contribution towards altering eating habits, improving diets and decreasing obesity levels.
“All of the contestants who have taken part this year should be inspirational role models for the food and beverage service in every school nationwide. Good luck to all of our 2016 National Finalists.”
MAGGI Brand Manager, Jason Rodriques added: “At Nestlé Professional, we have a passion for helping chefs develop skills throughout their careers, from our very own Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or initiative to Industry competitions such as this. As such, we are thrilled to be celebrating the talent of chefs who work in one of the most important areas.
“School chefs work tirelessly to provide children with appetising, nutritious meals, all within incredibly tight budgets, and everyone who has taken part in this year’s competition should be very proud of their achievements.”
The 2016 National Finalists are:
East Midlands School Chef of the Year 2016
Susan Terris, The William Allitt School, Newhall, Nr Swadlincote (Derbyshire CC)
East of England School Chef of the Year 2016
Annette Graham, Roger de Clare Primary School, Puckeridge (Hertfordshire Catering Ltd))
London School Chef of the Year 2016
Shereene Weston, John Ball Primary School, Blackheath, SE London (Chartwells)
North East & Scotland School Chef of the Year 2016
Abdul Mahdoul, Walbottle Campus, Newcastle upon Tyne (Newcastle CC)
North West School Chef of the Year 2016
Sharon Hornby, St Chad’s Primary School, Poulton-le-Fylde (Lancashire CC Catering)
South East School Chef of the Year 2016
Marion Jane, Goldstone Primary School, Hove, East Sussex (Eden Foodservice)
South West School Chef of the Year 2016
Sharon Cundell, St Edwards C of E Primary School, Plymouth (Plymouth CC)
Welsh School Chef of the Year 2016
Tracey Gibby, Porth Juniors, Porth (Rhondda Cynon Taff Catering Services)
West Midlands School Chef of the Year 2016
Jose Davies Kochakkadan, Marston Green Infants Academy, Birmingham (Solihull Catering Services)
Yorks & Humber School Chef of the Year 2016
Katherine Breckon, Westcliff Primary School, Whitby (N Yorkshire CC)