More than 60 budding cooks took part in the Welwyn Hatfield Young Chef of 2024 competition - and a 10-year-old girl has been crowned the winner.

Aditi, from St Michael's Woolmer Green VA C of E Primary School, has taken home the top prize following the finals at Ridgeway Academy yesterday.

Teachers delivered the Young Chef Award in Welwyn Hatfield during the last academic year, with over 60 children completing the course - which is closely mapped to the school curriculum.

The schools then sent finalists to recreate their menu for a team of judges at yesterday's final.

Each of the six finalists chose their ‘hero’ and designed them a menu.

At the final they created their three-course menu and drink, using a diverse range of ingredients including yam, lemongrass, coconut, tahini and a whole range of different spices.

Finalists with judges, teachers and Rotary membersFinalists with judges, teachers and Rotary members (Image: The Food Teacher)

The judges felt each finalist had an outstanding element to their menu.

Class teacher Claire Woods said: “From start to finish the process of the Young Chef award was a brilliant experience for the children.

"They loved learning new skills and preparing a variety of different foods. As a teacher, having completed the awards for the last five years, I find the project well resourced and very organised and I thoroughly enjoy the experience.”

Mia, from Homerswood Primary, created a delicious mushroom soup and her classmate Melissa presented tangy lemon cheesecake.

Fellow Homerswood pupil Hope served some tasty home made empanadas, while Lois from St Michael's Woolmer Green presented a farmhouse fruit crumble.

Victoria, also from St Michael's, served some tasty prawn tacos. 

Aditi, who won the awards, wowed the judges specifically with her main course of paneer butter masala with rice and her mango lassi.

She also made a chicken soup and kheer pudding.

Judges included Ghanaian TV Chef Patti Sloley and Marie Reynolds and Ellen Tuck from The Food Teacher.

Patti said: “All the children were fantastic and many of the dishes were so good I thought I was in a restaurant! It was a challenge finding a winner but Aditi stood out for the fantastic flavours of her food.”

The award, which was developed in 2017 by The Food Teacher team in Hertfordshire, aims to improve long-term health by educating children about food and nutrition. The awards have been running across Welwyn Hatfield schools for the last five years.

The event was supported by The Rotary Club of Welwyn Garden City and Ridgeway Academy.

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The team at The Food Teacher added: “Teaching children the importance of food for their health is essential and this challenge provides that opportunity within a practical, purposeful and engaging context.

"The focus and pride on the children’s faces throughout the afternoon was priceless and we look forward to organising the 2025 event in the summer term with schools across Welwyn Hatfield taking part.”

For further information, including recipes to try at home, visit https://youngchefoftheyear.com.