NHS catering chefs triumph in cookery challenge

Their two-course meal featured stuffed chicken breast with a creamy mustard sauce, cocotte potatoes, French bean nicoise and carrots – topped off with a dessert of crispy apple pie with toffee sauce. The dishes, which had to be served up within an hour and within a budget of £1.90 per head, impressed the judges so much that they have now been selected to represent the area in the national competition at Hotelympia in London next February. The catering arm is part of the NHS shared services provider Anglia Support Partnership. Lifespan Catering Services head of catering, Trevor Colcomb said: "We are all very proud of Michelle and Marlena who did a magnificent job on our behalf. "The standard of their food, much of which was locally sourced, spoke volumes on the day and we wish them well for the national competition next year." The team from Cambridge's Ida Darwin will now be hoping to beat off competition from nine other teams to gain recognition as the country's top hospital caterers – as well as receiving a gold medal. The regional competition was staged at City College, Norwich. Lifespan Catering Services clinched the top slot, with teams from West Suffolk and Aldeburgh hospitals coming second and third.