Held on 28th January at the Brakes Innovation Centre in Reading, the competition saw Kent impress the judges with his two course menu to secure the coveted title and the £1,000 cash prize.
Kent made a main course of Peri Peri Chicken, Pico di Gallo, Sweet Potato & Cavolo Nero followed by a dessert of Toffee & Banana Sponge with Caramelised Banana & Blackberry Cream.
The competition brought together eight of IFG’s chefs, each demonstrating ‘outstanding’ creativity, technical skill and a passion for providing nutritious meals for their school communities. The finalists showcased their abilities under the pressure of a live cook-off, producing an array of dishes.
Erin Ward, executive chef at Holmer Green School and Ghyslain Pramayon, executive chef at Spoone School, secured second and third places earning £300 and £200 respectively for their Pork Bao Buns and Gnocchi with Chorizo & Peas.
Andy Lidster, executive chef from The John Wallis Church of England Academy, received the Safety-First Award for his attention to kitchen safety taking home a £500 prize.
The judging panel included members of the IFG leaderships team: Richard Taylor (chief executive), Alex Hall (food director), Gemma Bolton (people director) and Clare Hanna (safety director) alongside Justin Clarke, business development chef at Middleton’s Food. They evaluated the dishes on creativity, presentation, taste, and execution.
Hall commented: “The competition was an important opportunity to champion the talent across our organisation. Events such as these help us to showcase the true quality of school food. Through elevating the people in our kitchens, we can show students, parents, schools and beyond the excellent dining experiences available to school students each school day.”
The IFG Chef of the Year competition is a key initiative in the organisation’s mission to ‘transform lives through the power of food’. It celebrates the vital role school chefs play in shaping young people’s dining experiences, showcasing their skills and dedication to creating nutritious, flavourful meals that students enjoy.