Francis Combe Academy student wins National recipe competition

Year 8 student wins £100 and signed copy of Michelin Star TV chef’s recipe book

Peter Bishop, a Year 8 student from Francis Combe Academy, has won a national ‘You’re The Chef’ recipe competition run jointly by the Love British Food organisation and school catering firm Cucina Restaurants.

This competition involved students from schools across the UK designing original British recipes, with winners eating free in their school restaurants for a fortnight and having their dishes cooked for the entire school.

Peter, whose dish ‘Roast Beef Bites’ won him first place in the school round of the competition, then went onto win the National Final which was judged by two Michelin Star TV chef Phil Howard, co-owner of Mayfair’s gourmet restaurant The Square. Peter’s dish was judged to be the best of all the school finalists from around the country.

Commenting on his dish, Phil Howard said that it showed “fantastic attention to detail and great understanding of basic cooking skills.”

Peter’s prize for winning the national competition was £100 in vouchers and a signed copy of Phil Howard’s book ‘Savoury’.

Deborah Warwick, Principal of Francis Combe Academy said:

“I am delighted for both our students and in particular for Peter who is passionate about cooking and wants to be a MasterChef in the future. Cucina’s role in promoting initiatives at the Academy has been well received and they really are more than just a catering company; ‘You’re The Chef’ is just one of many competitions that have been taking place throughout the year, including parent workshops and our very own ‘Seed-to-plate’ Eco-Garden project, where produce is grown and sold in the restaurant, with the help of the Head Chef Aaron Oliphant.”

Commenting on Peter’s dish, Academy Head Chef Aaron Oliphant of Cucina said:

“You’re The Chef has been a fantastic national competition and Peter is a very worthy winner. We are not just caterers - we work to involve students in food at every level - growing, cooking and presenting. I should also mention Year 8 student Luke Bird, who was our Francis Combe runner up.”

Luke’s special pork recipe also won praise from Phil Howard, who said: “Nice idea and some great cooking skills.”

Cucina chefs from around the country also entered into the spirit of the competition, producing original recipe cards which were distributed around Cucina’s schools.

(Pictured: Head Chef Aaron Oliphant of Cucina Restaurants with Year 8 Francis Combe Academy student and national 'You're The Chef' prizewinner Peter Bishop).

For additional information, please contact:

Doug Jenner 

doug@bestwords.co.uk

07973 751 039

www.cucina.co.uk/media

@cucina_kitchen