Alessandro and Yash Year 8 triumphed in the junior section of ESF Chefs’ Competition against all the other ESF secondary schools on Friday 27^th May 2016.

Working in a pair, their brief was to make street food classics into fine dining dishes – with 2 hours to make and present a main course and dessert.

Alessandro took charge of the main course, making Arancini Alla Siciliana, risotto balls stuffed with ham and cheese, served with a traditional tomato sauce. He said: “I chose this [dish] because it is traditional Italian street food which I think I can make restaurant level by adding a few small touches and plating it cleanly.

Yash made the dessert, Mango Kulfi with Cardamom Biscuit and Falooda, drawing on his Indian heritage. He said: “I chose to make this dessert because it brings together very traditional dishes and flavours. I am really pleased I can represent my school by making this amazing dish.”

The panel of chef judges all loved their modernised food from their own cultures and were really impressed with the presentation and balance of flavours and textures.

Claudia Lau Year 12 represented Island School in the senior section. She impressed the judges with her dishes of: Potato Galette with Ham, Poached Eggs and Truffle Oil and her dessert of Pandan Pancakes with Peanut-butter.

As well as bringing the trophy back to Island School, they also won a hamper of utensils donated by Masterful Ltd, restaurant vouchers donated by Maximal Concepts and a chef’s jacket donated by Chefworks.

Head of Hospitality and Food Technology Mr Lord said: “Many thanks to all the judges and sponsors and a big congratulations to all the competitors – well done to the boys, who put a lot of time and effort into practicing.”