Neve from Whitwick crowned Junior Chef of the Year

The competition has been running for five years

A North-West Leicestershire youngster proved she could stand the heat in the kitchen after being crowned this year’s Junior Chef of the year 2019.

Neve Roberts, aged 11, from New Swannington Primary School, Whitwick, was awarded the coveted prize by our school food service after her two-course menu impressed judges at the final, held at Brooksby Melton College on 24 June.

I really enjoyed my afternoon cooking and I can’t believe I won as everyone else had great recipes and worked really hard.

Person:Neve Roberts, Junior Chef of the Year 2019

Neve’s meal demonstrated excellent culinary skills as she served up smoked mackerel carbonara using wholewheat spaghetti and served it with courgette and spinach in a creamy parmesan sauce. She also baked her own bread rolls flavoured with chives and parmesan to accompany the main course. Her dessert was a tasty apple and raspberry crumble served with a quenelle of honey and vanilla mascarpone.

Having impressed a panel of judges, which included catering professionals from Brooksby Melton College and senior dietician, Paula McKee, the winning dishes will now be added to the next LTS Catering Services school menu.

Neve follows in the footsteps of Isabella Rackham-Sayer from St Hardulph’s Primary School, Breedon on the Hill, who won the competition last year.

I would like to congratulate all of our young chefs who have taken part in the competition.

“It is a fantastic event and great opportunity for young chefs to hone their culinary skills and showcase their creativity in the kitchen.

Person:Byron Rhodes, deputy leader of the county council

The finalists were put to the test during a series of heats organised at their schools before five finalists were selected to appear in the final.

The competition has been running for five years and is gaining momentum each year with hundreds of entries to date.