Chicken dish hits the spot for young chef

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25: Eight budding chefs served up a culinary storm as they vied for the title of Bermuda Young Chef of the Year.

The youngsters treated four judges to a range of delicious dishes, from fish curry to fruit crumbles.

But in the end 15-year-old Gabbie Arnold from Warwick Academy came out on top. She wowed the judges with a main course of chicken breasts stuffed with avocado, Bermuda onions and tomatoes, with pureed potatoes and steamed local vegetables followed by banoffee pie.

The competition was the brainchild of Laura Knight, the Food and Nutrition teacher at Warwick Academy.

The participants had to prepare a two-course meal for a family of four using local ingredients — for $60.

The event took place at the kitchens of Bermuda College on Saturday.

Ms Knight said: “The competition was a great success and everyone really enjoyed the day. All the students were extremely professional and produced very high quality dishes enjoyed by all the judges.

“I hope this can encourage young people in Bermuda into a career in the food hospitality sector.

“I would like to thank the judges Leo Betschart, Livio Ferigo, Mike Scott and Renato Capriz for coming along to support the event, the sponsors Fairmont Southampton and Bermuda College for letting us use their facilities.”

The judges, members of the Chefs’ Association of Bermuda, chose Sajni Richardson as the runner up and third place went to Jaelen Steede.

All the participants were given certificates and the new Bolero cookery book. The three winners were also presented with a set of Wüsthof knives.