Threshfield teenager celebrates cooking success (From Craven Herald)

Jess Berry, 15, in regional finals of Rotary Young Chef competition

2:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News

A young Upper Wharfedale chef has cooked her way to the regional finals of a culinary competition.

Jess Berry, 15, from Threshfield, will take on cooks from across the North of England after she beat off competition from nine other youngsters representing different areas of Yorkshire and Humberside in a hotly-contested cook-off at Bettys Cookery School in Harrogate.

She had previously won the Dales leg of the annual Rotary Young Chef competition, which is aimed at encouraging young people to develop cookery and food presentation skills as well as look at healthy eating options.

Working to a tight budget of just £15, each young chef has to bring a healthy, three-course meal to the table in two hours.

Jess’s winning menu featured marinated Loch Tay trout with seared king scallops, spiced Goosenargh duck breasts with spatzeli and cherry jus, baked chocolate fondant with singed oranges and Town Head cream.

The Upper Wharfedale School pupil said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far – their support and encouragement has been amazing. The competition’s great fun. I’ve really enjoyed the cook-offs in Skipton and Harrogate so I’m already excited about competing at the next level.”

Jess had honed her skills during a two-week work placement at Grassington House Hotel.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Peter Gibbs, branch manager at Waitrose, said: “We are delighted to hear of Jess’s success – she was a worthy winner of the local heat staged at Craven College and it’s great to see that her skill, dedication and enthusiasm for cooking has been recognised again by professionals from the catering industry.”

Rod Walmsley, assistant district governor of the Dales Rotary Clubs, said: “All the talented youngsters taking part produced fantastic menus, but I am pleased to say that Jess went that extra mile to take the district title, earning her the chance to cook again at the regional heat in March. We all wish her the very best of luck.”