Ready, steady, cook!

Judges Hopwood Hall College lecturer Brian Yates (left) and Sam Everett from Harvey Nichols (right) with junior master chef winner Zayn Janghir (centre)

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Hopwood Hall College hosted a junior master chef and master baker competition last week which saw young chefs and bakers battle it out for the title.

The competitions, which took place at the College’s Rochdale campus were open to students from schools across the borough. In the master chef competition, competitors had to prepare a starter and then a main course using salmon or chicken as the primary ingredient.

For the master baker competition, competitors had to prepare and serve six scones and a dessert of their choice.

All the competitors were judged by a panel of experts. In the master chef competition this included Sam Everett, the Rosette acclaimed head chef from Harvey Nichols while Natasha Brown, of Brown’s Cakes in Rochdale, joined the judging panel in the master bakers competition. The standard of food in both competitions was very high and the judges commented on how impressed they were by the level of skills shown by the competitors.

After a tough day of competition, the winners were finally announced.

Zayn Janghir, 13, from Oulder Hill Community School was crowned winner of the junior master chef competition after impressing judges with his starter of potato katles patties followed by a hot chicken curry served with turmeric rice and yoghurt raita.

Runners-up were Eleanna Damianou, 15, from The Blue Coat School in Oldham and Nashe Chizema, 15, from Manchester Communication Academy. While a magnificent queen of puddings and delightful fruit scones won 15 year old Eleanor Smethurst, also from Oulder Hill Community School, the title of junior master baker. Runners-up were Madihah Aslam, from Oulder Hill Community School and Warren Howard, from Manchester Communication Academy.

Zayn took an early interest in food, learning as his mum cooked family meals and he could smell all the various spices that were used. He likes trying flavours from different cultures and hopes to continue learning about how ingredients can transform dishes. Not only did he win the title but he was also awarded with chef’s whites and a set of knives. He commented: “Winning the competition has been the best experience. I’m going to put my knives and new chef jacket to good use.” Indeed he hopes to continue practicing so that he can achieve his dream of becoming a Michelin starred chef at his own restaurant.

Eleanor’s favourite baker is Mary Berry, as she likes the way she gives constructive criticism to contestants on The Great British Bake Off. Although she really enjoys baking, in particular cake decorating, she hopes to study law in the future but would like to work in a restaurant or bakery while she studies. She was thrilled to win the title as well as a chef’s jacket, timer and patisserie book.