Young Leicestershire cooks battle it out for ‘Junior Chef of the Year’ title

Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley was one of the guest judges.

Nine primary school pupils from across Leicestershire have battled it out to compete for the title of ‘Junior Chef of the Year’.

Children from Market Bosworth, Groby, Lubenham, Great Bowden Frisby, Blaby and Measham competed in the final.

The winner was 10-year-old Annie Moss from Great Bowden Academy.

She made teriyaki salmon and Japanese style rice for her main alongside a pear and blueberry galette as her dessert.

A Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley was one of the guest judges, he said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be here and help with the judging. The standard has been incredible – at 10 and 11 years old to producing food like this is just absolutely amazing. 

“They can all consider themselves winners in my eyes. It was very hard to pick a winner and it has been a joy to taste it all.”

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Mel Hook, business development manager at Leicestershire County Council said: “A huge congratulations to Annie for cooking up a storm in the kitchen. It was fantastic to bring our Junior Chef of the Year contest back to once again showcase the amazing cooking skills held by young people all across Leicestershire.”

The competition was run by Leicestershire County Council’s Leicestershire Traded Services arm, which provides school food to 170 schools in the county, feeding thousands of children a day.