Anna Carmichael named FutureChef 2014
Fifteen-year-old student, Anna Carmichael from Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, Liverpool has been named FutureChef 2014.
Carmichael fought off 11 other competitors at the national final at Westminster Kingsway College earlier today.
The finalists had to prepare two restaurant-quality dishes from a selection of fresh ingredients in just two hours.
Carmichael's winning menu comprised lamb shoulder, pan-fried lamb, pulled lamb with pistachio and mint crumb, butternut squash, new potatoes, spinach and shallot purée, followed by chocolate and raspberry plate, warm chocolate and raspberry fondant, raspberry syllabub.
Competition judges included head judge David Mulcahy, craft and food development director Sodexo UK & Ireland, TV chef James Martin, Hayden Groves, executive chef for BaxterStorey and National Chef of of the Year 2013, Steve Munkley, executive chef, the Royal Garden hotel, Sophie Wright, food writer and owner of Sophie Wright Catering, Alan Bird, chef patron, Bird of Smithfield, Simon Stocker, advanced practioner, Westminster Kingsway College, Adam Degg, head pastry chef, Wild Honey restaurant, Vivek Singh, executive chef at the Cinnamon Club, Kitchen and Cinnamon, London and last year's FutureChef winner Hayley Cancea.
On being named FutureChef 2014 Carmichael said: "I can't believe it. There were so many amazing dishes, I'm so shocked I've won."
FutureChef chairman, Brian Turner CBE, commented: "It's been an emotional day and it's fantastic to see so many dedicated young people with so much talent. Thanks must also go to teachers and mentors who make such a great contribution to the success of the event. FutureChef is a great competition and Anna is a great winner."
"You can see that these young people have really listened to their mentors, but they still had to deliver under pressure and that's impressive. Overall the competitors have delivered a really high standard and presented us with some standout dishes," said Martin.
Springboard's FutureChef is a nationwide culinary initiative run by The Springboard Charity, helping young people aged 12-16 to learn to cook, explore food and develop a vital life skill. It develops culinary skills, educates about food provenance, health and safety and food hygiene and informs about entry routes to worthwhile careers in hospitality. The initiative encourages the next generation of young chefs and, of course, through its four stage national competition, each year crowns one talented participant as the Springboard's FutureChef winner.
List of finalists:
East of England - Henry Mathews, Bungay High School, Suffolk
East Midlands - Isobel Coombs, Ratcliffe College, Leicester
West Midlands - Carl Ridsdale, South Bromsgrove High School, Worcester
Wales - Bronwen Jenkins, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Carmarthen
South West - Katie England, Exmouth College, Devon
North East - Connor Blades, Barlby High School, North Yorkshire
South East - Jordon Powell, The Forest School, West Sussex (third place)
London - Rick Owens, Riddlesdown Collegiate, Croydon (fourth place)
Central and South Scotland - Rebecca Ramsay, Arbroath High School, Arbroath
North Scotland - Meganne Shearer, North Highland College, Thurso (runner-up)
Northern Ireland - Christine Graham, Banbridge Academy, County Down
North West - Anna Carmichael, Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, Liverpool
