Ellie Brackenbury and Emily Saneha from Sandown Bay Academy have won the 2017 Create & Cook Competition, bringing the fit2ook trophy back to the Island.
The 14-year-old old duo fought off stiff opposition from their Sussex and Hampshire rivals at the regional cookery competition final, held at Newlyns Cookery School near Hook in Hampshire on Tuesday (27th June). The Create & Cook Competition which is run by fit2cook food education celebrates local food and nurtures young talent.
Winners Ellie and Emily were praised by 2016 Masterchef winner and judge Jane Devonshire for their culinary skill, their attention to detail and their understanding of the provenance of their ingredients. The girls winning dishes were homemade tagliatelle with chicken, bacon and white wine sauce and Island rocket salad followed by raspberry and lemon mille feuille with raspberry coulis.
Jane Devonshire said:
“The girls homemade puff pastry was as good as any top restaurant and their mille feuille dish was beautifully presented. They went the extra mile to add little details like Gallybagger cheese crisps with their pasta dish, popping corn and chocolate spoons with their dessert. I was really impressed!”
Min Raisman from fit2cook food education, who runs the competition added:
“Ellie and Emily used so many Island ingredients adding real flavour and character to their dishes – Calbourne Mill Flour; Brownrigg Farm eggs, chicken and bacon; Isle of Wight Garlic; Oil of Wight; tomatoes; rocket and of course their homegrown berries. The Isle of Wight has won this competition several times now and the quality of Island ingredients is a key to success.”
Wightlink chief executive Keith Greenfield, who supported the girls to get to the mainland final added:
“We are delighted that Emily and Ellie have done so well – they are a credit to themselves and their school. The fact that their winning dishes were prepared with locally sourced ingredients means this is tremendous news all round for the Isle of Wight.”
Emily and Ellie won a goody bag of cookbook and local produce to take home and will have their recipes professionally styled and photographed to be published on websites and in magazines.
