Newark Academy pupil reaches final of prestigious Inspiring Culinary Generations Competition
A talented schoolboy is making a name for himself as one of the top young chefs in the country after reaching the final of a prestigious culinary competition.
Ben Allen, a year-8 pupil at Newark Academy, was part of the final stages of the National Final of the Inspiring Culinary Generations Competition.
He said: “It was a challenge preparing for the actual final, but the day itself was very testing due to unfamiliar working areas, time pressures and different ingredients to what I had been used to.
"I managed to push through and use my initiative to adapt the recipe I had created to the ingredients I had available.
"It has definitely encouraged me to want to enter again and also pursue a career as a chef.”
Ben created a dish of beef roulade, sautéed cabbage, red wine jus and pomme puree.
The competition was a a life-changing experience for aspiring student chefs to compete in a national inter-college and school cook-off — judged by an elite panel of professional chefs including Lesley Waters.
Competitors travelled from across the country to take part in the final, held at Bournemouth & Poole College.
Head teacher at Newark Academy, Chris Fisher, said: "We are incredibly proud of Ben. He has worked hard on refining his culinary skills and has a strong passion and skill for cooking.
“He performed amazingly throughout the day, facing tough competition and extremely high standards.
“For Ben, it unfortunately wasn't his year this time but I know that he is grateful of the opportunity this has given him and made him even more determined to apply for this and other competitions in the future.
“Ben has demonstrated our academy great values excellently and a superb role model to others. Well done Ben.”
Annabelle Hobbs from Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth took first prize with a winning dish of guinea fowl wrapped in parma ham, with a prune chutney served with a red wine jus.
She took home the first-place trophy, a cash prize of £200, as well as £100 worth of cookware and a certificate, while Ben and the other runners-up each received a culinary goody bag.
