A YOUNG Okehampton chef took first prize in a recent Rotary Club sponsored competition with a touch of Moroccan cuisine. Year 11 student Alex Vincent?s Moroccan chicken on a bed of couscous was chosen as the overall winner, which means he now goes forward to the regional final. Alex was one of six students who entered the Young Chef?s competition sponsored by Okehampton Rotary Club and held at Okehampton College last Wednesday, October 18. Alex beat off Ann Webb from Year 8 who won second prize for her chicken stroganoff and third placed Katherine Allen from Year 10, with the old favourite bangers and mash. Judging was carried out by Andy Hatten from the Fountain Hotel, ably assisted by school cook Sue Carn and Rotary Club president Ian Courtney. Mr Courtney said: ?The students were given a brief to prepare a main meal for two people for less than £3.50.? He said the standard of entries had been extremely high, with Andy and Sue deliberating for several minutes before deciding between the first two prizes. As winner of the local heats, Alex now goes forward to a regional final, which is expected to be held in Bournemouth in the New Year. The best young chefs at the regional competition will then go forward to the national finals which are held in a big London hotel and judged by a well-known chef. This was the second year the Rotary Club in Okehampton had sponsored the competition, and gave out Waterstones book tokens to the participants.
