6 dinner ladies and 2 dinner men from across the South East of England are set to battle it out for the regional title of South East School Chef of the Year 2019 later this month, including Leanne Bonner from Gatten & Lake Primary School.
The Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) School Chef of the Year Competition has been the flagship event for school chefs to showcase their professional skills for more than 20 years.
Against the clock and under the scrutiny of a panel of judges, the dinner men and women will have to prepare 4 portions of a main course and a dessert suitable for serving to 11-year-olds in school. They will have 90 minutes and a maximum spend of £1.30 is allowed for the cost of a single meal.
Leanne Bonner of Caterlink at Gatten & Lake Primary School in Shanklin is one of those dinner heroes hoping to win the regional title. The winner from this regional heat will go on to represent the whole of the South East of England against 9 other Regional Champions in the National Final, which is to be held on 7th March 2019. A second place may be awarded at the Regional Final at the discretion of the judges.
The line up of dishes on this year’s contestants’ menus is not only impressive but also demonstrates the exceptional culinary expertise of today’s school chefs. Ingredients, flavours and adventurous themes have been drawn from exotic locations right across the globe.
Leanne will be presenting a chilli chicken lasagne served with a garlic and herb plait, Mexican corn and a mixed leaf salad. For dessert, a chocolate sponge and mandarin puddle will be on offer.
The South East of England Regional Final is being held at Premier Foods in St Albans, Hertfordshire on Wednesday 28th November 2018.
