Shae's a winner!

Praised by the judges for producing a ‘starter to kill for’, thirteen year old Shae Hardy from Blandford School has clinched the top slot in the second ‘East Dorset’ heat of the national Rotary Young Chef competition staged at Poole Grammar School

The youngest of the five contesting the heat - from Blandford,  Ferndown Upper, Corfe Hills and Poole Grammar schools, Shae moves on to the district round of the competition in February, with a handsome cash prize and a trip to Italy awaiting the winner of the national finals, which takes place in Oxford in April.

Shae’s starter of smoked haddock and spring onion and beetroot tartlets with a chicory salad was followed by a main dish of ballotine of pheasant with bubble and squeak stack and chestnut mushroom sauce.  This was complemented by a sweet of rhubarb and almond clafoutis with rhubard and star anis compote served with cream.

The three judges, Luke Matthews, executive chef at the Chewton Glen Hotel, New Milton, and local restaurateurs Antonino Perrella and John Perry, all commented on the high standard of cuisine demonstrated by all the young chefs, singling out Shea’s for its overall excellence - in particular the starter. 

Shae collected a silver salver and vouchers for £60. Second placed Elly Wood from Corfe Hills School, who could still go through to the district heat as the highest scoring second placed contestant, picked up vouchers worth £40.  Third placed Lina Fail from Ferndown Upper School collected vouchers worth £20.

Speaking at the presentation of the prizes, Antonino Perrella, one of the judges and the president of Ferndown Rotary club said, "Once again the judges have been floored by incredibly high standards achieved by all contestants.  It's not that many years ago that youngsters might typically have been hard pushed to produce a soft boiled egg let alone prepare a hot snack or meal.  Today, our contestants have illustrated just how far things have progressed.  I wish all of them every success in their chosen careers.  They’re all winners in my book."
 
Organised and run by the Rotary Club of Great Britain and Ireland, Young Chef is open to all of secondary school age.  It charges contestants to produce a three course meal from main ingredients costing no more than £15, the meal to be prepared and presented, ready for judging, within just two hours on a table set by them."