Home Local News A Lancashire school cook is in the top class

A Lancashire school cook is in the top class

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Sharon Hornby being presented as the Lancashire winner (590x444)
Photo: Sharon Hornby being presented by Janette Mason and Carolyn Young-Smith from School and Residential Care Catering.

A Wyre school cook is celebrating after winning the Lancashire heat of the School Chef of the Year competition.

Sharon Hornby, from St Chads Primary School in Poulton-le-Fylde, has cooked her way to the regional finals in November.

Sharon battled it out against nine other cooks from primary schools across Lancashire for this event, run by LACA, (the Local Authority Caterers Association).

The annual competition puts the preparation, cooking and technical ability, together with the creativity and presentation skills of the school cooks to the test.

Sharon’s signature dish of Italian chicken wrapped in bacon with a rich tomato sauce, dauphinoise potatoes with a lemon and herb crust and carrot and poppy seed salad followed by a courgette, coconut and lime sponge won the top prize.

Sharon said: “I was really nervous about the competition and hoping that something wouldn’t go wrong.

“I was over the moon when I won. I’ll really focus and do as well as I can when I’m representing Lancashire in the regional finals.”

Each cook had to serve a signature dish judged by cooking experts. They had to produce a healthy, balanced two course meal in one hour and a half on a limited budget of £1.60 suitable for serving to primary school children.

The menu needs to reflect the seasonal availability of products and showcase the regional cultural influences of each cook.

County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “School cooks face a challenge every day. Their menus have to be varied and interesting as well as being nutritious, balanced and appealing to children.

“This national competition required them to cook a typical school meal on both a time and budget limit.

“I know that the judges would have had a real job choosing a winner from all the excellent Lancashire school cooks who were competing.

“Congratulations to Sharon and I know she will do us proud in the regional finals.”

The entrants for the School Chef of the Year 2016 competition Lancashire heat were:

Faz Hussain from Stoneyholme Primary School, Burnley
Toni Boardman from Hippings Methodist Primary School, Accrington
Ellen Farnworth from St. Peter’s Primary School, Chorley
Rose Rawcliffe from Morecambe Bay Primary School, Morecambe
Katy Brown from Heasandford Primary School, Burnley
Aarron Jablonski from Cottam Primary School, Preston
Julie Henry from Mayfield Primary School, Chorley

Pam Akhtar from St. Oswald’s Primary School, Blackburn also took part.

The regional finals will be held on the 12th November in Manchester

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