Queen’s College, Taunton was proud to host a regional heat of the prestigious Rotary Young Chef Competition this weekend, welcoming talented young cooks from across the South West for a day of skill, creativity and culinary excellence.

This was the third Rotary Young Chef heat hosted at Queen’s, continuing the school’s proud involvement in the competition and bringing together aspiring young chefs from across Somerset and neighbouring counties.

Among the competitors was Queen’s pupil Ksusha, who represented the school superbly and went on to win the heat, competing against eight other South West candidates. Despite the high standard of the competition, Ksusha impressed the judging panel with her commitment, professionalism and culinary skill, securing first place for Queen’s College.

The Rotary Young Chef Competition challenges pupils to prepare and serve a two course healthy meal for two people within two hours, working to a strict £18 budget. Competitors are judged across a wide range of professional criteria including costing and planning, healthy menu design, knife and equipment skills, time management, organisation and hygiene, cooking techniques, presentation and taste.

Ksusha represented Queen’s magnificently throughout the competition and should feel immensely proud of her achievement. She continues to be a fantastic ambassador for the Queen’s Young Chefs team.

Following her success in the regional heat, Ksusha now progresses to the next stage of the competition this Sunday, where she will compete against young chefs from across Wales and the South of England, before the national championship in Manchester.

The competition was overseen by an outstanding panel of judges including Peter Gorton, one of the South West’s most accomplished and respected chefs. Based in Devon, Peter gained a Michelin star while proprietor of the renowned Horn of Plenty and earlier in his career led the kitchen at the iconic Carved Angel. His many accolades include being named MasterChef of Great Britain, alongside awards such as the Egon Ronay Award and Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has worked in some of Europe’s finest kitchens and continues to champion regional producers while mentoring the next generation of chefs.

Also joining the judging panel was former Queen’s pupil Munopa Nhete, now widely recognised within the UK food scene. Munopa is a BBC MasterChef 2025 semi finalist and has previously been crowned Somerset Junior Chef of the Year, South West Junior Chef of the Year, and South West Home Cook of the Year. Her cooking style celebrates the best of British produce, particularly seafood from the South West, while incorporating vibrant African influences that reflect her heritage.

Hosting the Rotary Young Chef Competition provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils at Queen’s to engage with professional chefs and experience first hand the standards expected in the culinary world.

A special thank you also goes to Alaaddin, who played an important role in supporting the event throughout the morning. He welcomed visiting pupils and families from across the region, liaised with judges, served canapés and even acted as the event photographer, demonstrating professionalism and warm hospitality throughout the day.

Competitions such as the Rotary Young Chef Competition highlight the strength of food education and culinary skills development at Queen’s College, where pupils are encouraged to explore creativity, precision and confidence in the kitchen.

Congratulations once again to Ksusha on a fantastic achievement, and the very best of luck as she represents Queen’s in the next round of the competition.