College supports search for young culinary star

Perth College UHI recently hosted a national cooking programme, aimed at finding the country’s next up-and-coming culinary star.

Perth College UHI recently hosted a national cooking programme, aimed at finding the country’s next up-and-coming culinary star.

Run by Springboard Charity, the FutureChef programme offers the chance for 12-16 year olds to learn about the basics of cooking from industry professionals.

With over 600 schools currently participating, seven competitors from five Perthshire schools competed - St Johns RC Academy, Perth Academy, Perth High, Blairgowrie High and Kinross High. Judges on the day included Clive Lamb, Perth College UHI lecturer; David Ward, Executive Chef at Sodexo and Kirstine Elder Brodie, General Manager Sodexo.

The Perth Local Final winner Freya Conway from Kinross High School will compete in February against 14 other young people in Glasgow. She will prepare and cook a main course and dessert for two people with a £10 budget and 90 minutes of cooking time. If successful, she will go on to the National Final in London.

Ian Gibb, Sector Manager for Food Studies and Hospitality said: “This competition is a great opportunity to encourage young people into the exciting hospitality industry.”

FutureChef has several high-profile chefs behind it. Michel Roux Jr praises the programme, saying: “FutureChef is exactly what the industry requires to remedy the growing need for new talent by inspiring the next generation of chefs."