Yorkshire cook is LACA's 10th School Chef of the Year

East of England school cook Sharon Armstrong has won the Local Authority Caterers Association's 10th School Chef of the Year competition, held in Birmingham last week.

Armstrong, who is catering manager at the Caedmon School, Whitby, North Yorkshire, qualified for the final by winning the East of England regional heats. She prepares 400-450 meals a day for 11- to 14-year-olds.

Her winning two-course meal was Captain Cook's pasta, which consisted of pasta shells with Esk salmon and smoky bacon in a spicy tomato sauce, served with sweet and sour salad and a garlic and herb East Coast muffin.

Her dessert was Dracula's Delight, which is raspberry jelly with white chocolate mousse served with Jetter (shortbread) biscuits. Both courses had to appeal to 11-year-olds, cost less than 80p and be nutritious.

Brian Turner, one of the competition final's judges, described the presentation of the dishes as inspirational, adding that they "tasted great".