The 2024 School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) competition, which is sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods, has been launched to find the nation’s best school chef.
Competitors must prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a total food cost of £1.60 per head in 90 minutes that meet the School Food Standards and Eat Well Guide. The LACA School Chef of the Year competition is the ‘perfect showcase’ for passionate school chefs to demonstrate what they do best every day.
Anita Brown, LACA chair, said: “2024 is set to be a very special year indeed as this wonderful competition is celebrating 30 fantastic years so happy 30th anniversary SCOTY. This is an amazing event which starts as our school chefs compete in their own regional cook offs before they come along for the final competition live at the LACA Main Event in July 2024.
“It is an amazing experience for all that take part, enabling our staff to showcase their amazing talent and a great opportunity to meet chefs from across the country on both the regional and national stages. It’s a massive chance to show what talent and innovative ideas our brilliant staff have and I can’t wait until it all starts in the new year and follow the heats through to the Main Event Final. Best of luck to you all.”
The judging criteria for the 2024 SCOTY competition:
- Use of Premier Foods products (10 marks)
- Working practices in the kitchen (20 marks)
- Creativity and appearance (10 marks)
- Taste and flavour (10 marks)
The national final will once again be held at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole with the overall winner announced on the evening of Thursday 4th July.
Regional final winners will each receive a £100 cash prize. The 2024 national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2024 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300, respectively.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN TAKING PART IN SCOTY 2024
For more information, download the entry pack below.