Food teachers from across the Isle of Wight have gathered together for the launch of the 2016 Create & Cook Competition to seek out the best young cooks across the South.
The innovative competition, run by fit2cook food education and sponsored by The Southern Co-Operative, gives 12 to 14-year-olds the opportunity to create their own menus inspired by the produce grown and produced around them
At the launch on 25th November, Head chef and owner of the Little Gloster Restaurant, Ben Cooke, introduced teachers to his favourite local produce and ingredients from the Isle of Wight along with vegetable grower, Will Steward of Living Larder.
Min Raisman, Director of fit2cook food education, said:
“Understanding how food is produced, grown and reared and also appreciating that food buying choices have consequences – environmentally, socially and economically, I believe makes people better cooks. This is the essence of the competition”.
Now in its 7th year, the Create & Cook Competition allows young cooks from schools across Hampshire, Sussex, Isle of Wight and Brighton and Hove to enter through their food technology department. County cook-offs will pave the way for finalists to compete to be crowned the overall champion in June 2016, winning £1,000 for their school’s Food Technology Department and a pestle and mortar fit2cook trophy.
The Isle of Wight has won the Competition twice in a row so the pressure is on to retain the trophy for another year.
Local Sourcing Manager at The Southern Co-operative, Kate Hibbert, said:
“It’s so encouraging to see young cooks engage with local food, something we’re extremely passionate about as a regional business. Whilst it is challenging for them to cook in front of a panel of professional chefs and judges, our previous entrants have relished the opportunity, and the standard of cooking is outstanding; it’s very rewarding”.
To enter, students in pairs need to design a two course menu using as many local ingredients as possible. The closing date for entries is Friday 18th March 2016. More information about entry requirements can be found here: https://www.fit2cook.co.uk/createandcook
Min Raisman continued:
“As well as designing a two course meal which uses local ingredients from the entrants’ home county, the young cooks, who work in pairs, have to complete a questionnaire about the production, character and uniqueness of their key ingredients. They also need to display an understanding of why it’s important to buy local”.
Mark Persad, Head of Marketing at Wightlink, who sponsor the Create & Cook Competition’s travel to the Isle of Wight, said:
“Wightlink are very proud to be associated with the Create & Cook Competition as it celebrates local produce and the talents of our young people, both areas that our own company champions. With our support, fit2cook has been able to launch its competition to schools directly with the help of Isle of Wight chef Ben Cooke from the Little Gloster”.
