Youngsters prove they have the recipe for success in Rotary cooking competition

BUDDING young chefs cooked up a storm as part of a new Rotary-organised initiative in Coventry last week.

Eight youngsters from the ‘Ready, Steady Cook’ group at Pathways Family Hub, in Radford, took part in a Rotary Young Chef competition during the February half-term break.

Each of them was tasked with cooking a main course and a dessert, with dishes ranging from Spaghetti Bolognaise to Cheese Pizza, and Brownies to Apple Crumble.

Emerging triumphant from the kitchen in the morning session was 16-year-old Declan Doonan, and in the afternoon, Lily-Mae Hibbert-Edwards, 13.

The event was an initiative of Coventry Jubilee Rotary Club and was supervised by group leader Sandie Morris. Judging on the day was Tony Davies, from Gourmet Food Kitchen, in Coventry, who commended the youngsters for the quality of their dishes, as well as their enthusiasm.

Tony worked in some of the best kitchens in the world before establishing Gourmet Food Kitchen in Fargo Village, an intimate location that, in the evening, offers a fine dining Chef’s Table experience for 12 guests and, by day, a bagel menu.

He said:

“I wanted to get involved as I think it’s great to support young kids who have a passion for cooking, it’s great to see younger kids using fresh produce to produce dishes in this all-too-easy processed food society.”

Ready, Steady, Cook meets on Wednesday evenings and is for young people between the ages of 10 and 17. They learn new recipes, good kitchen practices, and kitchen skills. Coventry Jubilee also recently gifted the group a food mixer out of their Santa’s Sleigh collection proceeds.

Pathways is a former Sure Start centre, now operated by Coventry City Council. It offers many services, including parenting support, a daily midwife clinic, a young carers’ group and support for people with special educational needs.

John Young, Chair of Coventry Jubilee’s Youth Committee said:

“We all enjoyed the day very much. The youngsters have been well trained. They worked methodically and showed great commitment. And the food was excellent!

“I wanted us to try something we haven’t done in a long time, so this came up. I believe the old model of youth work (‘keep them off the streets’ and all that) isn’t much use in today’s world. It’s much better to provide ways and means of gaining life skills.”

To find out more about the work of Coventry Jubilee Rotary Club, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/CovJRotary.