Sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods, LACA’s School Chef of the Year competition attracts some of the very best school chef talent from across the country. Regional final winners will each receive a £100 cash prize.
The competition is open to all kitchen-based staff involved in the daily preparation of pupils’ meals in schools across the UK whether from a local authority or contract-catered site, managed in-house, academy school or part of a Multi-Academy Trust.
The regional finalist winners and potential wild card competitors will take part in the national final at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July 2024.
At the national final, 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.
The LACA School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) is now in its 30th year and has drawn national attention with the annual winners often appearing on TV to showcase school cooking.
The winning regional final dishes were:
- Aaron Delaney (West Midlands): coconut stuffed aubergine and coconut dahl, flavoured with curry powder & pineapple cake topped with caramel and served with a creamy lemon curd custard.
- Garry Finan (East Midlands): soy and honey marinated chicken with scallion pancake, Asian stir fry and noodles & citrus posset with raspberry compote and Earl Grey biscuit.
- Paul Hardy (North West): seasoned chicken drumstick, red pepper and Spanish onion paella, sweet ‘patatas bravas’ and garlic aioli & layered biscuit, raspberry brownie and chocolate sponge, chocolate mousse, raspberry coulis and custard.
- Duygu Dee Karakus (Wales): wholesome lentil lasagne infused with Mediterranean flavours and crispy garlic bread, served with beetroots and green & Turkish delight inspired carrot balls with Birds custard.
The next SCOTY regional final will be the South West and take place on Tuesday 4th June at Weston College. Each of the regional final winners receive £100 and the chance to become the overall SCOTY champion. School meal providers can register for free entry to the School Food Show to watch the competitors in action.