PUPILS at Lady Modiford Church of England School in Walkhampton may be forgiven for looking forward to lunch more than most ? their cook has been named as the top ?Devon school chef of the year?. Anne Hext-Williams won the accolade after beating two other school cooks ? Emma Baker from Stokenham School and Nikki Hartry from Two Moors School in Tiverton ? in a special head-to-head at a ?Masterchef?-style contest in Exeter. The contest was organised by the Local Authority Caterers? Association (LACA) and Nestlé Food Services. The cook-off was held at Larkbeare House in Exeter where the three chefs each cooked a two-course meal using ingredients costing just 90p. Anne proved to be the creme de la creme with the judges with her winning dish of salmon in a lemon and parsley-flavoured breadcrumb crust with a summer citrus pudding with oranges, rhubarb and evaporated milk in sponge. This year?s judges were Year 7 students from Exmouth Community College, a chef, a catering professional and dietician. The finalists were judged on presentation, nutritional balance, taste and appeal to children and innovative use of local ingredients. Anne said: ?I was thrilled to win and glad that the judges chose a salmon dish. It?s good brain food as it?s an oily fish and I think it?s important not to have anything too fussy for children. This has a nice fresh taste. I tried it out on two pupils before the contest and they loved it.? Anne, who has been at the school for a year and moved from the Pixie?s Holt adventure centre, said: ?I love it. It?s the best job I have ever had.? She will now take part in a national culinary competition to find the School Chef of the Year 2008 to promote the high standards of skill, professionalism and creative talent in the education catering sector. Gavin Hamilton, headteacher of Lady Modiford School, was delighted with Anne?s success: ?I am very pleased because Anne does a lot of extra things for the children since she?s been here. I have school dinners here myself and I would not if they were not so good. Anne is a very important member of our team. ?All the children enjoy her food, there are no complaints and school dinner numbers are going up.? Anne?s award is another tick for the school, which has just been reinstated with an Investors In People award and was granted a higher grade in the latest Ofsted report.
