CHARLESTON CHEF HEADS TO NATIONAL ROTARY COOKING FINALS

by Loch Ness PR - 12:09 on 14 February 2010

The Rotary Club of Loch Ness sponsored a local budding foodie when they entered Charleston pupil Caitie Grainger of Breakachy near Beauly into Rotary’s National Young Chef Regional Competition sponsored by Felippo Berio and she won through to the Scottish Final.

The competition set Caitie the challenge of putting together a full three-course meal within a budget of £14 which would be fully prepared and served ready for tasting in a two-hour timeframe.

The chance to cook was a long time coming, as the Rotary Club had actually made contact with Charleston Academy to find a pupil to put forward to the Scottish Regional heats last year. And due to the fact that at the time Caitie and the school had recently had success at the Highland Feast schools competition it was felt she should be chosen for the bigger Rotary event. Unfortunately due to illness last year, Caitie had to withdraw at the last minute and missed her opportunity. So when this year’s competition came round the Loch Ness Club thought it was only right to give Caitie and the school the chance to go forward again.

Caitie, who picked up her love of food and cooking from her dad pulled out all the stops at the Scottish Regional heats in Dundee last weekend and both she and the members of the Loch Ness Club were delighted when she was selected as winner and told that she would now go forward and compete for the Scottish title.

Speaking following her victory, and excited Caitie said, “I am really pleased to have won this competition, it means a lot to get to this stage and know that your cooking is appreciated at a really high level.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to go to Dundee and get a chance to represent the area and cook in a full commercial kitchen which gave me a great chance to see at a much closer level how the industry operates.

Explaining that her favourite course to cook is desserts, she went on, “I am really looking forward to taking part in the Scottish Final in East Kilbride in March, and although I am keeping my menus top secret at the moment – I am sure that I will have a few surprised up my sleeve for the judges on the day.”

Mike Halley, President of the Loch Ness Rotary Club said, “As a club, we sponsored an entry to the national competition primarily to give a local school pupil with an interest in food the opportunity to take part in the event. However, the fact that Caitie actually won the regional heat was absolutely brilliant and we are now fully behind her as she heads to the Scottish Rotary Final.

“It’s a really great opportunity for all the young chefs. Last year’s overall winner was given the opportunity to go to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant in London and spend time getting advice and working with the various chefs there, so the Rotary competition really is a great ‘door opener’ for those interested in pursuing a career in food as I understand Caitie is.

The club president confirmed that there will be a strong support contingent from both the Rotary club and the School going with Caitie to the finals in East Kilbride in a few months, “We don’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on Caitie, as we believe the Rotary competition is still all about offering individuals like her opportunities. However, we will get behind her and give her and her family all the support we possibly can.

Caitie has been helped plan for the competition by Elaine Bremner, Principal Teacher for Home Economics and her staff at Charleston Academy who have prepared the competitor and have accompanied her to the heats and will continue to be there to support her both in school but also at but also at the Scottish Final as well.

Through the school’s Home Economics department’s connections, Caitie has also been mentored by Chris McSevney the head chef at Redcliffe Hotel who has been extremely impressed by Caitie’s approach to her cooking.

Speaking following Caitie’s competition win, the Hotel and Restaurant Head Chef said, “Caitie is really easy to teach and is a fantastic learner. She just wants everything to be as perfect as it possibly can.

On being asked his professional opinion on Caitie’s chances in the Scottish Finals, Chef McSevney said, “I would give Caitie a job in my kitchen in a heartbeat – so that will give you an indication as to how good I think she actually is.

“I really hope she does well in the competition. But either way, it will just be a fantastic experience for her that will only make her a better chef regardless of the result.”

The final, organised by Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), will take place in Chichester 24th April 2010. For more information about youth projects in Rotary, visit http://www.ribi.org/youth. Amongst other things the overall UK winner will get a chance to visit the olive groves in Tuscany courtesy of Felippo Berio.
 

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