Hannah Bentley is through to the National Final of the Rotary Young Chef competition. Hannah, who is in year 11 at Penrith’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, won the northern regional final at Kendal and will cook off against 7 other regional finalists on 27th April in Leeds.
Hannah reprised the menu that got her to the regional final, preparing broccoli and Stilton soup with wholemeal croutons; pan fried sea bass with curried cauliflower puree and a mango relish; and a raspberry mouse with meringue kisses and a raspberry coulis.
Hannah said: “It is amazing to be through to the final, I didn’t expect it at all. It is so good to be in the final eight out of 3,000 entrants.”
Hannah began cooking with her grandma and has been entering cookery competitions since she was eight. She is studying for a GCSE in Food Technology and hopes to pursue a career involving food and nutrition. Her prize included a £60 voucher for Lakeland Ltd, and the winner’s trophy.
The Young Chef competition aims to support and encourage development of cookery skills, and to encourage young people to learn how to cook a healthy meal, develop food presentation skills, consider food hygiene issues, develop organizational and planning skills and an ability to cope in a demanding situation.
