Queen’s College was delighted to host the Rotary Young Chefs Competition last weekend. Welcoming schools from across the region, the event celebrated young culinary talent, creativity and skill, and it was a privilege for the College to serve as host for such a respected competition.The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Taunton, whose continued commitment to supporting young people through education and practical experiences was evident throughout the day. Queen’s College extends its sincere thanks to the Rotary team for their organisation and partnership.
The competition was overseen by an exceptional panel of judges. Head Judge Chef Richard Hunt, a television chef, former Master Chef of Great Britain and member of the Academy of Culinary Arts, brought extensive experience from high profile hotels in Central London and the South West. He was joined by Chef Ren Gaillard, Pastry Chef and Chocolatier Judge, and Beverley Gore, Foodie Education Judge, each offering valuable expertise and encouragement to the competitors. Speaking after the judging, Chef Richard Hunt commented, “Everyone produced courses that were absolutely fantastic,” while Chef Ren Gaillard added, “It has been a real pleasure to come by and be part of the competition.”
Queen’s College is also grateful for the support of Jaz and John Spackman, owners of the The Martlet Inn, a traditional village pub in Langford Budville near Wellington. Their involvement added further industry insight and strengthened the connection between education and the professional culinary world. John Spackman of The Martlet Inn said:
“When the opportunity came up to help with the Young Chef Competition, we were very glad to help, and were so impressed with the education that Queen’s College provide. We are hoping to find one of their previous pupils to join our team in the kitchen.”
Congratulations go to all schools that took part, and particularly to the Queen’s Young Chefs team. After weeks of dedicated after-school preparation, four pupils progressed to the inter-school competition stage. Loic, Ksusha, Johann and Hannah represented the College with professionalism, confidence and skill.
A special congratulations goes to Ksusha, who won the competition and will now progress to the next round on 10th March. This is an outstanding achievement and one that reflects both her talent and commitment. The Queen’s College community is incredibly proud of her success.
The Rotary Young Chef competition challenges pupils to prepare and serve a two-course healthy meal, comprising a main course and dessert, for two people within two hours and on a budget of up to £18. Competitors are assessed on a wide range of criteria, including costing and planning, healthy menu choices, knife and equipment skills, time management and serving temperature, organisation and hygiene, range of techniques, and overall presentation and taste.
Adrian Prior Sankey MBE, President of the Rotary Club of Taunton, said:
“Thank you to Mr Mann and the amazing team at Queen’s College for their generous hospitality and expertise at last weekend’s Rotary Young Chef competition. It was a joy to see the arrangements benefit the gifted young people.”
Events such as this highlight the importance of practical learning and real-world experiences, and Queen’s College is proud to support opportunities that encourage pupils to develop confidence, creativity and ambition beyond the classroom.
Further information about the Rotary Young Chef competition can be found on the Rotary website.