AN Okehampton teenager has shown off her culinary talents after reaching the county semi-final of the South West Junior Chef of the Year competition.

Chloe Crocker, a 14-year-old Year 9 Okehampton College student from Lewdown, was one of seven youngsters who took part in the semi-final at Exeter College.

Her main course was ‘Lamb in the garden’. Made using local regional ingredients and given a 90 minute time limit, Chloe presented tenderloin of lamb reared on her family farm, accompanied by a potato cake containing wild garlic, a puree of peas, carrots dressed in honey, redcurrant sauce with some stinging nettle fritters.

The unusual twists in Chloe’s dish interested the judges. Competition was strong and the judging panel included Mark Dobson from The Masons Arms, the principal from Exeter College and the head chef from Boringdon Hall.

The Devon heat winner was from Stover School in South Devon, who now goes on to the South West regional final.