15-year-old Callum Rundle-Kearns has come second in the national Jamie Oliver Home Cooking Skills Competition 2017.
Callum, a Year 10 student at the Island Learning Centre in Newport, won second place in the individual category of the competition and won a meal for 2 at a Jamie Oliver Italian restaurant with £40 per person to spend. He also received a mention on the Jamie Oliver website and a book from the man himself – and to celebrate his birthday this month is hoping to visit the Gunwharf Quays branch of Jamie’s Italian Restaurant with his mum.
For the competition Callum cooked a delicious British beef crostini with zesty crème fraiche and baby leaf salad, a main of sesame chicken with oriental-style dipping sauce and teriyaki noodles and a very impressive chocolate bomb for dessert, made of a gooey chocolate brownie under a chocolate dome; which very cleverly melted when a warm chocolate sauce was poured over it.
Cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Paul Brading, said:
“This is only the second year that the Island Learning Centre has entered this high profile, national competition and for Callum to come second is a fantastic achievement not only for himself but the school as well.
“I am delighted to be able to congratulate both Callum and the school on his win and in particular his teacher, Fiona Steel, who provided the support and encouragement to enable students to enter this challenging competition in the first place.”
Headteacher Jackie Boxx said:
“This is an amazing achievement and we are extremely proud of Callum, who worked for several weeks perfecting his menu and showed a range of skills and creativity on the day, when he produced his marvellous meal.
Article continues below this advertisement “Special thanks have to go to our food technology teacher, Fiona Steel, who supported Callum through the competition and continues to inspire our young people to achieve in this exciting subject.”
Callum was inspired to take part in the competition as he had always enjoyed his food technology lessons and wanted to use his cooking skills to plan, prepare and cook an ’alternative’ school lunch that he and his friends would enjoy. The three course meal had to be nutritious as well as tasty and well presented.
Callum had to purchase the ingredients, cook the food, decorate the table, publish a menu, serve the food and wash up afterwards. Photos and statements from those invited to the lunch provided some of the evidence that led to the award.
His win follows a year on from the success of 2 students at the same school, who celebrated coming runners up last year.
