Index

Culinary Delights from Calderglen

Eight talented pupils from Calderglen High School formed the four teams who entered the East Kilbride heat of the Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition which was held in South Lanarkshire College on 20 November.

The teams, who had been guided in their preparation for the competition by their teacher Nicole Burns, had to cook and present a balanced healthy two course meal for two within a time of one and a half hours, and a prescribed budget. The preparation was closely watched by the judges, Executive Chef Gerry Sharkey from La Bonne Auberge, Chef Paul Devenny from South Lanarkshire College and Rotarian Barclay Wales, who also checked presentation of the meal at the table and finally sampled all the courses.

Both Chefs commented on the excellent quality of the food presented and had some difficulty in making their decision but eventually awarded the team prize to Aryanne Finnie and Natalie Moy who had prepared a meal of Tuna Nicoise and Profiteroles with Mixed Berry Coulis However the overall winner, who had the slightest of edges over the others due to her overall enthusiastic and committed approach to preparing the food, was Amy McCulloch who had jointly prepared a meal of Pan Fried Sea Bass and Baked Flap Jack Plums.

The remaining entrants, Carly Frame; Rachel Murphy; Shannon Coleman; Michelle Craig and Katie McInnes all received warm praise for their efforts, and President Frank McLuskey of East Kilbride Rotary Club presented all of them with a certificate recognising their participation. The winners also received cookery books and the overall winner, Amy, also secured the star prize of one weeks training with Executive Chef Gerry Sharkey in La Bonne Auberge Restaurant in Glasgow. Amy's father, Donald McCulloch, who was among an audience of thirty parents, friends and Rotarians who enjoyed hospitality prepared by college staff, was "surprised and delighted " with her success.

Amy will now go forward to the Rotary District 1230 finals in early 2009 to represent East Kilbride, and hopefully from there all the way to the UK finals in April - good luck Amy.

At the conclusion of the evening the President Frank McLuskey paid tribute to President Elect Ray Porrelli for organising an excellent competition and evening, and recognised the invaluable input of Ishbell Anderson and Cathie Purcell from South Lanarkshire College who had also been wholly and enthusiastically involved in its organisation. The President also thanked the Chairman of South Lanarkshire College, Rotarian Ian Macpherson, for allowing the use of the splendid facilities in the college, and the judges who, like all the college staff, had selflessly given of their own time. The Chairman acknowledged the thanks and expressed the hope that the competition would grow on its initial success next year.