Five Leicestershire youngsters are preparing to turn up the heat as they enter the final stage of the Junior Chef of the Year competition.
The primary school pupils cooked their way to the top and will now battle it out in a final round for the chance to get their hands on the coveted prize.
The definitive cook-off, of the annual county council run contest, which takes place on Monday, 24 June at Brooksby Melton College, will see the fantastic five battle it out in order to crown one lucky pupil Junior Chef of the Year 2019.
The finalists, who have competed against more than 40 contestants to reach the final, include:
- Holly Hutchinson, age 10, Great Dalby Primary, Melton Mowbray;
- Erin Schoneveld, age 10, Riverside Primary, Birstall;
- Alfie Jimminson, age 10, Wymeswold Primary, Loughborough;
- Neve Roberts, age 10, New Swannington, Coalville;
- Sam Hall, age 10, Overdale Junior School, Knighton.
I would like to congratulate all of our young chefs who have taken part in the competition so far.
It is a fantastic event and great opportunity for young chefs to hone their culinary skills and showcase their creativity in the kitchen.
Person:Deputy leader for Leicestershire County Council, Byron RhodesDuring the final round, young chefs will have to prepare their two-course meals against the clock before submitting them to an expert judging panel made up of catering professionals from Brooksby Melton College and senior dietician, Paula McKee.
The reason I wanted to enter the competition was because I wanted to have a go at designing my own menu for other people to eat.
I also wanted to experience what it’s like cooking in a professional kitchen. I’ve always enjoyed cooking lots of different things at home with my mum. I particularly like cooking Italian food.
Person:Sam Hall, finalist in the Junior Chef of the Year 2019 competitionThe competition has been running for five years and is gaining momentum each year with hundreds of entries to date.