BBC Chef in Hopwood Hall v Nelson and Colne Cook-Off

Cook Off with students Kara & Charlotte and BBC Chef Azzam Ahmed

Hopwood Hall College students took part in a fun Cook-Off event with celebrity BBC chef Azzam Ahmed.

The BBC Fusion Chef and Ambassador for BMW conducted and organised the Cook-Off between Hopwood Hall College and the Nelson and Colne College at the Feel Good Festival event in Rochdale.

On September 2, a team of two students from each college took part in the event, watched by members of the public, their fellow students, and staff from the College.

The young students were given the nerve-wracking task of cooking a main meal and a dessert on a stage in front of the large audience in just 45 minutes!

All the food had to be in Halal fashion, and two servings of each meal had to be prepared: one for tasting and one for the photographer to take pictures of. The dishes were judged by representatives from BMW Rochdale, as well as the manager of the Frankie and Bennies restaurant, also situated in Rochdale.

Students Kara Rae Kerslake and Charlotte Emily Butterworth raised the flag for Hopwood Hall’s catering department, cooking up a tasty menu of Cape Malay Crusted Cod and a warm Treacle Tart with Orange and Cardamom Anglais.

In the end, the competition was deemed a ‘draw’, as the judges declared both teams’ food to be excellent.

Azzam is keen to keep links with the College and has plans to schedule talks to students over the coming months.