School cook wins chance to feed hotel guests

A school cook so impressed judges of the School Chef of the Year competition that she was given the opportunity to try out her menu at a local hotel.

Margaret Campbell, who runs the kitchen at Oakley Cross Primary School, won the County Durham round of the Local Authority Catering Association's competition to find the best school cook.

Her menu of tuna fishcakes with sweet-and-sour sauce and chocolate volcano sponge with white chocolate mousse had to be produced for just 80p to qualify.

Not only was the dish produced to the right budget, but it also won favour with the judge, David Stockton, who is head chef at the Lumley Castle hotel, Chester-le-Street.

After the judging he gave the school cook a chance to cook for his guests at the hotel.

According to the hotel, the guests were very impressed, although it won't be making any more appearances on the hotel's lunchtime menu.

Campbell won through to the regional finals of SCOTY 2004, which will be held on 12 November. The national final in Birmingham takes place on 9 March next year.