Teen squashes competition in Thatcham Rotary Young Chef Competition

Thatcham Rotary Club has crowned this year’s winner of the Young Chef Competition.

Ascot Rotary Club nominee and Licensed Victualler's School Ascot pupil Zara Chambers, 15, won the contest for her three-course meal consisting of butternut squash soup, cheese and spinach quiche and profiteroles.

Finalists had earned their places by winning earlier rounds of the competition, held throughout the Rotary District known as 1090.

The brief was to design, plan and cook a healthy three-course meal for two within a fixed budget.

The final, at Newbury College, was under the watchful and professional eye of head judge and lecturer in catering Malcolm Baggott.

Kennet School student Jayden Green, 16, proved a very worthy runner up with his menu of pate, fillet of fish, followed by a dessert of panacotta.

District governor Marius Hopley was on hand to present Zara and Jayden with their certificates and book token prizes.

Mr Hopley commented on the high standard achieved by all the young chefs and hoped that interest in the completion would grow in the years to come.