Daniel Named FutureChef Winner

Posted at 3:23 pm on 20th November, 2019

Year 11 Student Wins Cooking Competition

Year 11 student, Daniel, has won the East Manchester heat of the Springboard FutureChef competition.

Springboard’s FutureChef competition is aimed at students aged 12-16 years who are keen to learn more about high level cookery, gain experience in professional kitchens, meet professional chefs and develop their practical culinary skills.

Students from eight other schools across Manchester, including Flixton Girls School and Altrincham Boys Grammar School, gathered at the Manchester College, Openshaw campus. 

All competitors took their positions in the professional kitchens to produce a high quality two-course menu within a 90 minute time slot.  

The menus were judged by Head Chefs from the culinary world, who joined the panel from industry restaurants at Manchester United, Malmaison, Ibis and Hilton hotel chains. 

Daniel’s winning menu included chicken and wild mushroom ravioli, served with a sage brown butter followed by chocolate orange fondant. 

Miss Jones, Teacher of Food and Nutrition, said:

“Daniel has worked tirelessly to practice and develop his menu for the competition.  He used the experience and judges feedback from competing in the FutureChef competition last year to come out on top this year!” 

As the winner, Daniel received a cookbook, embroidered chef jacket and certificate. He will now work alongside a Chef Mentor and go on to the FutureChef North West regional competition, which will be held in the professional kitchens at the University of Central Lancashire on 31st January 2020.

Miss Jones added:

“A huge congratulations to Daniel; he has worked really hard and produced a menu of an exceptional standard.  The judges complimented his work and said his main course was of restaurant quality; one judge was so impressed that they even offered him a job when he leaves Wellacre!" 

Daniel, Year 11, said

"I was so busy, that time flew by and when the judges said I had 20 minutes left I couldn't believe it! I was very pleased to win and I will take the judges' feedback on board and develop my menu further with my Chef Mentor to prepare for the next round.”