Representing Varndean School in the regional competition for Create & Cook 2016 are:

Amber Dobbin and Manon Scrivener, Year 8

Max Gnoyke & Caspar Seansena, Year 9

Ben Spooner & Harvey Walters, Year 8

Special runners up: 

Cara Payne & Charlotte Booth, Year 9

Congratulations to the three winning teams and all entrants who were of a very high standard.

The aim of the competition is to give budding young cooks the opportunity to create their own menus inspired by the produce grown and produced around them. Entering through the school food technology department in pairs, young cooks were asked to design a 2 course menu using as many local ingredients as possible. The top 6 entrants where invited to the Varndean cook off and Mr Desborough & Mr Hancock had a difficult decision in selecting just three to represent the school in the regional rounds. 

The three winning menus can be seen below.

Amber Dobbin and Manon Scrivener, Year 8

 

 

 

Pan fried mackerel with borage harissa served with spinach and pea tortilla & quinoa salad

followed by

Delicious triple chocolate and strawberry brownies served with Montezuma’s chocolate and double cream

 

Max Gnoyke & Caspar Seansena, Year 9

 

 

Sussex Savouries

Homemade stuffed dough balls with tomatoes, pepperoni and mozzarella

followed by

Oriental Crab and Sea Bass Choi

Fresh crab and sea bass infused with oriental herbs and spices wrapped in pak choi

 

Ben Spooner & Harvey Walters, Year 8

 

 

 

Seasonal fish & seafood stew with homemade bread & aioli

followed by

Sussex Downs meringue with fresh soured cream

 

Special runners up: Cara Payne & Charlotte Booth, Year 9

 

 

Cheesy Stuffed Chicken

Chicken with a goats cheese and thyme stuffing, accompanied by courgettes, with a sweet potato and carrot mash.

followed by

Raspberry Tiramisu

A fresh raspberry tiramisu made with homemade sponge fingers and Sussex cream.

Cara and Charlotte as proud runners up and in recognition of their hard work and effort will have their meal make a guest appearance in the school canteen. Btec students will recreate the dish and serve it to staff and students in the summer term!

 

Finalists and Finals

Competition sponsors The Co-op will be judging the entries over Easter and will announce who has made it through to the county finals the first week of the summer term. Only 4 pairs from each county will go through so it is always a difficult decision for the judges. The judging panel are the 3 founders of the competition - Andy Mackenzie, chef from Lainston House Hotel; Davina Tibbetts, home economist and Min Raisman from fit2cook.

Dates for the county finals are:

Sussex Final - Wednesday 4th  May - City College, Brighton

The winners of each final will go on to the regional final which will be held again at Newlyns Cookery School near Basingstoke on Tuesday 21st June.  The regional finalists will all have their recipes professionally styled and photographed as a prize and one pair will be crowned the 2016 Champions and win £1000 for their food technology department and the fit2cook trophy!

Don't forget to visit our gallery where you will find lots of photos of the competition.