FutureChef 2016 winner announced

14 March 2016 by
FutureChef 2016 winner announced

Bethan Disley-Jones from Merseyside has won this year's Springboard FutureChef competition.

The 14-year-old from Pensby High School, Merseyside saw off competition from 11 other finalists at Westminster Kingsway College, London.

Disley-Jones impressed the judges with her menu comprising corn-fed chicken with sundried tomatoes and chorizo mousse, oyster mushrooms, basil and cream ravioli and a spinach cream sauce followed by a dessert of baked pear with raspberry sorbet.

Commenting after the announcement, Disley-Jones said: "I entered FutureChef because I saw what past winners had achieved and I wanted the chance to do the same. It's amazing to have won and I feel FutureChef will give me lots of opportunities for employment."

Disley-Jones wins a behind-the-scenes experience at Henley Regatta in July, working with Sodexo Prestige executive chefs, plus a boat trip on the Thames, and a day's racing along with accommodation.

Disley-Jones also receives a year's student membership for The Craft Guild of Chefs. Her school receives £400 of vouchers courtesy of Lockhart Catering Equipment, while her mentor chef is awarded a commemorative plate.

Judges included head judge David Mulcahy, culinary director, Sodexo UK and Ireland; Tom Hamblet, FutureChef 2015 winner; Mark Sargeant, consultant chef, BaxterStorey; Lahiru Jayasekara, head chef, Petrus and Will Torrent, consultant pastry chef, Waitrose.

Second place went to Courtney McDowell, 16, City of Glasgow College, who received an invitation, along with three guests, to the Delaware North box at Wembley for the Summertime Ball 2016. McDowell will experience a work placement in the VIP area before the concert shadowing the executive head chef for Hospitality, Mark Reynolds.

Connor Duncan, 16, Menie Estate Golf Academy, Aberdeenshire, came third and won and opportunity to cook a dinner with a celebrity chef and the Elior development chefs for 100 VIP guests.

Now in it's 16th year, Springboard's FutureChef, is a nationwide culinary initiative delivered in nearly 600 schools nationwide. The main goal of FutureChef is to help young people aged 12-16 to learn the vital life skills of cooking and understanding nutrition, as well as providing invaluable insight into and inspiration for building a career within the hospitality industry.

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

East Midlands - Yasmina Lock, 13, Ratcliffe College, Leicester
East of England - Emily Eves, 13, Hartismere School, Suffolk
North East - Abbie Frost, 15, Beverley High School, East Yorkshire
Northern Ireland - Katie Russell, 14, Banbridge Academy, County Down
South West - Madi Cole, 13, Penrice Academy, St. Austell
Wales - Imogen Charles, 14, Bishop of Llandaff School, Cardiff
West Midlands - Abigail Phipps, 13, Kingsmead School, Staffordshire
North West - Bethan Disley-Jones, 14, Pensby High School, Merseyside
North Scotland - Connor Duncan, 16, Menie Golf Academy, Aberdeenshire
London - Phoebe Reeves, 15, Tanbridge House School,

THE JUDGES

David Mulcahy, culinary director, Sodexo UK and Ireland, Head Judge
Steve Munkley, executive chef, The Royal Garden Hotel
Tom Hamblet, FutureChef 2015 Winner
Mark Sargeant, consultant chef, BaxterStorey
Lahiru Jayasekara, senior sous chef, Petrus
Simon Stocker, advanced practitioner, Westminster Kingsway College
Matt Owens, executive pastry chef, Fusion Catering Solutions
Will Torrent, consultant pastry chef, Waitrose
Joe Queen, executive chef, Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort
Cyrus Todiwala, OBE DL, chef patron
David Girard, executive pastry chef, The Dorchester
Simon Boyle, chef founder, The Brigade
Sophie Wright, Sophie Wright Catering

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