FutureChef 2004/2005 – Victoria Willis

The electric atmosphere of competition, coupled with the rattle of steaming pots and pans, was the scene at Westminster Kingsway College as a fifteen-year-old Victoria Willis from the Banbridge Academy in Northern Ireland wrested the FutureChef title with an outstanding performance on the day. Cooking her main course and dessert to perfection and earning the highest praise from the judges: "The level of skills has really gone up this year," said Peter Gordon, co-proprietor of The Providores and chairman of the judging panel. "The balance of flavours, seasonings and spicing was very good. The judges were impressed with the skills shown."

Victoria cooked a stunning main course of a duo of guinea fowl and smoked bacon served with buttered spinach and a puy lentil jus. Her dessert, a chocolate tart, was served with a burnt orange sauce and raspberry ripple ice cream.

Victoria commented, "It was a good fun competition and the shock of winning actually took two days to sink in."

The 2005 competition saw 5530 entrants from over 520 schools and the victorious Victoria won £500, courtesy of City & Guilds, a fantastic all-expenses paid trip to London staying at a top hotel and experiencing lunch and dinner at an exclusive Compass restaurant including an exciting opportunity to cook with a mystery celebrity chef from a famous London restaurant, all courtesy of the Compass Group. In addition she enjoyed a family break at one of Center Parcs villages, a year’s subscription to both BBC Good Food and Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazines, commemorative certificate and a Steelite International commemorative plate.

FutureChef 2004/2005 - Pamela Black

Westminster Kingsway College, on Friday 5^th March 2004 saw Sixteen-year-old Pamela Black from Battersea Technical College in London claim the title with a stunning duo of dishes that wowed the judges and confirmed that she has the potential to be a star-quality chef.

From a basket of ingredients supplied by sponsor, 3663, 15 year old Pamela Black from Battersea Technology College, prepared a fantastic Quatre Saison de Poulet – four seasons of chicken - poached supreme of chicken with an etuve of creamed leeks and bok choi (Spring); confit of drumstick flavoured with rosemary and served on pumpkin and parsley puree (Summer); ballotine of thigh with sage and shallot seasoning on a tian of roasted oyster mushrooms (Autumn); and lightly spiced tomato, chilli and herb broth (Winter). She followed this with a tarte aux poire avec salsa de mangue – crisp citrus and vanilla pastry filled with caramelised pears accompanied by a mango salsa and warm caramel cream to win the coveted title of FutureChef 2005.

For her valiant efforts Pamela won an exciting culinary trip to Luxembourg and Germany courtesy of Villeroy & Boch, a commemorative plate, and a year’s subscription to BBC Good Food Magazine.

UK Schools showed enormous enthusiasm for the FutureChef 2005 competition. 5500 students from 483 schools across the country participated in school, local and regional heats to find the cream of aspiring young chefs, with 11 regional winners eventually vying for the title.

FutureChef 2002/2003 - Martina Halligan

339 schools across the United Kingdom held heats in 2002 to determine who would represent each school in the Local Heats, of which a total of 36 took place. The winners of those Local Heats then went onto the Regional Finals held at the end of 2002 and the beginning of 2003 to find out which eleven youngsters would represent their region in the Grand Final in London on February 28th 2003.

Little did Martina realise, as she won her school heat in September in the first of four stages of the FutureChef competition that she would be on her way to London in late February to compete for the national title of FutureChef 2003. Even less did she think that she would win? But triumph she did against the undoubted culinary talent of 10 other Regional Finalists.

Martina comes from Northern Ireland and attends St. Ciaran’s Secondary School, Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone. Before she started Home Economics classes, Martina was more used to making spaghetti Bolognese, stir-fries and tray bakes than elaborate gourmet food. However, according to her Home Economics teacher Paula McAnenly, as soon as Martina got a saucepan and a sieve in her hands, Paula could see she had the makings of a star. Paula commented at the Grand Final, "She’s a really special girl. She just stands out. All along I thought she was in with a very good chance. She took everything into consideration and just perfected the dish on the day."

After winning the title of FutureChef 2003, Martina commented: "I am absolutely thrilled at winning first prize. I was very surprised and nervous. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my name."

FutureChef 2001/2002 - Kerry Bennett

FutureChef 2001 went national for the first time and had 130 schools with 350 pupils across the country fighting it out in the kitchens. The Regional heats left just six contestants to compete in the Grand Final, staged at Westminster Kingsway College during the Springboard Festival week of October that year.

Based on a successful final the previous year the Final saw the competitors cooking a two-course meal for two within a budget of £10.00. Proud winner of the first prize was Kerry Bennett of White Hart Lane School, London, whose winning entry of Tian of Lamb with Aubergines & Peppers was followed by Steamed Orange & Chocolate Pudding, much to the Judges delight! Kerry’s prize was a day’s cooking with Gary Rhodes at an elaborate Masterclass banquet held at Hampton Court Palace, with two tickets for his guests.

Kerry is now continuing his studies, enjoying his food and cooking and is determined to enter the industry and become a Chef.

FutureChef 2000/2001 - Alicia Hyacinth

During the Springboard UK Careers Festival 2000 nine finalists from London schools prepared a two course dinner consisting of a main and desert for two people costing no more than £10.00. The final took place at Westminster Kingsway College and was won by Alicia Hyacinth, prizes included a cheque for three hundred pounds, a set of professional chef knives, along with an excellent further prize awarded by Sodexho to attend their Masterclass at Lord’s Cricket Ground, which gave Alicia the fabulous opportunity to work along side celebrity chefs James Martin and Tony Tobin to produce a meal for 250 guests.

Alicia is now employed by Compass Group working in Goldman & Sachs International catering department as a Pastry Chef. She is thoroughly enjoying every minute of it.