Manchester students battle it out in F word style challenge

Split into two teams, the teenagers joined Hilton head chef David Gale and Des Norton from The Manchester College as they battled it out in the kitchen to cook the best three course lunch. More than 30 invited guests including a number of other pupils from the school attended the two-hour contest which took place on 6 October at The Manchester College campus in Openshaw, with each given £20 in fake money to spend on the food. The blue team headed up by Gale won the competition raising £285 after cooking a roasted pumpkin and spinach risotto, a main course of stuffed chicken breast together with a dessert of apple tart firie with chantilly cream. Meanwhile the yellow team led by Norton cooked a cauliflower and coconut soup with curried flutes starter followed by poached stuffed chicken breast in a Chinese style broth and triple chocolate brownies and vanilla custard dessert. The event was part of the East Manchester Food and Drink Fringe Festival, organised by urban regeneration company New East Manchester in partnership with Manchester City Council and Zest healthy living project to coincide with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Sean McGonigle, deputy chief executive of New East Manchester, said: "The competition was a great opportunity for students to get a taste of careers in the hospitality industry and judging by the amount of money each team raised, it is clear that the event was a great success." Peter Tavernor, principal of The Manchester College, added: "It's been a great experience for our students. Working alongside professional chefs from one of Manchester's most high profile hotels is not something that happens to them everyday."