Our Young Chef of the Year competition
Supporting local talent and creating local futures
February 2012 saw Augill Castle host the final of the first Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef of the Year competition.
Finalists Bethany Woof & Fiona Lambert with judges Rory Stewart MP, Broadcaster Eric Robson and Simon Bennett of Augill Castle (that's me lurking at the back wearing my halo!)
The idea of the Masterchef style competition was borne out of our successful Little Augill Cooks children's cookery school and our work with local schools through the Let's Get Cooking initiative.
"It is rare for a school to be embraced by an outside industry establishing work related links. This partnership is so important if we hope to bring the world of work into the classroom."
- Christine McGregor, Food Technology teacher, KSGS
14 & 15 year old pupils from schools in Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Penrith and Alston were invited to enter and subsequent rounds saw them compete head to head, cook Sunday lunch for forty guests, undertake one-to-one development days in our sponsoring hotels' kitchens, with the final two cooking for a panel of four judges at Augill Castle on Saturday, 4 February, 2012.
The final was between Bethany Woof and Fiona Lambert, both of Kirkby Stephen Grammar School with Fiona being judged the winner after a very close contest.
"Thank you very much for this wonderful experience, it will stay with me forever."
- Fiona Lambert, Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef of the Year
Our co-sponsoring hotels were
"The competition included a wide range of professionals, each supporting the initiative; this could not have happened without your drive and determination."
- Christine McGregor, Food Technology teacher, KSGS
Both finalists received a set of knives courtesy of Robert Welch and Fiona received a winner's trophy, an engraved cheeseboard made of Westmorland slate courtesy of Honister Slate Mine. Fiona won a summer placement working in the kitchen of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Windermere, England's Small Hotel of the Year 2010 and AA Hotel of the Year 2011.
“Congratulations to all the competitors in this very worthwhile competition. I am confident both Fiona & Bethany have a successful culinary career ahead of them and I hope this competition has encouraged them to use their skills in our beautiful region.”
- Rory Stewart, MP
The next Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef of the Year competition will kick off in 2013 with the final scheduled for the end of the Autumn term 2013.
We are looking for schools and sponsors interested in being part of this exciting and innovative initiative.
If your school or hotel would like to be involved please contact Simon Bennett at simon@stayinacastle.com for further details.
