Thomas Perkins and Steven Yap cook their way to victory
Kent Young Chefs of the Year
The Produced in Kent initiative to find the county’s most talented budding chefs, and get Kent’s young people cooking with local and seasonal ingredients, sizzled to an exciting conclusion as Thomas Perkins and Steven Yap lifted the Junior and Senior Kent Young Chef Award 2010 trophies at the electric Live Cook Off before Christmas at Thanet College.
With the competition sponsored by Hadlow College, kff (Kent Frozen Foods) and Woods Restaurant, Produce Store & Bars of Tunbridge Wells, it was the youngest competitor in the finals,11-year-old Thomas Perkins of Holmesdale Technology College, in Snodland, who won the Junior title for his original Gamekeeper’s Supper, made with pheasant caught locally by Thomas’s gamekeeper father.
Steven Yap, 16, of The New School at West Heath, won the Senior trophy with his “technically outstanding” ballotine of guinea fowl and duxelle stuffing with spinach tagliatelle, chestnut pur�e, mushrooms and bacon.
The eight competitors cooked up their dishes in front of a live audience and the judging panel including celebrity chef Richard Phillips, Claire Wood head chef at Woods Restaurant; as well as Thanet College lecturer Sue George.
As part of their prize all eight finalists will visit one of Richard Phillips three restaurants in Kent (Richard Phillips at Chapel Down, The Hengist and Thackerays) to experience a taster day as a real chef.
