FutureChef BakeOff is the competition element of our Jnrs programme. Aimed at S1/S2 (Scotland), Year 7/8 (England and Wales) and Year 8/9 (Northern Ireland), participants will compete by creating a fruit tart, photographing the process, and submitting a recipe, and methodology for their bake. These are then sent to a wealth of industry professional chefs, who work to whittle the entries down to find the Top 5. These are then shared with our core group of chefs, Brian Turner, David Mulcahy, Steve Munkley and Mark Reynolds who will select a winner.
In only its second year, the BakeOff Competition has sought talent from all four nations of the UK, and the level of talent on display has been immense. It was great to see so much individuality, whilst still meeting the original brief of creating a fruit tart, with some competitors opting for berries, others chose to incorporate a citrus flavour, and others used seasonal produce. Many participants also made a note of the importance of using locally sourced produce and minimising the waste they created in the kitchen.
Beating out competitors from across the UK, 12-year-old Libby Roseveare came out on top as our FutureChef BakeOff Champion for 2022!
The student from Golspie High School in Scotland, created a beautiful Plum Frangipane Tart that really wowed our judges. One judge noted that the sweet shortcut pastry that Libby made was of excellent quality, and her fruit design was very artistic. Commenting on her flavour choices, Libby added that the tart was “one of the most delicious tarts” she had eaten, thanks to the combination of almond frangipane and the sweet plums. Libby has been invited to join us at the FutureChef National Final next month in London where she will receive customised chef whites and a knife set from Russums.
Our runners up are Evie Cowan from Banbridge Academy in Northern Ireland, who created a Seasonal Berry Tart with a Rose Whipped Cream, and Gabriela Wojtyczka from Balfron High School in Scotland, who created a Chocolate Forest Fruit Tart.
BakeOff serves as a precursor to our flagship FutureChef Competition, and this year is the first year we can see BakeOff alumni competing in our senior competition. Miranda Paz-Sanchez won the BakeOff Competition for their region last year and is now participating in our FutureChef Competition.
Miranda feels that participating in the BakeOff was the perfect introduction to culinary competitions and gave her the confidence to push herself out of her comfort zone. When she found out she had won BakeOff for her region, Miranda felt motivated and knew she could overcome her nerves to compete in the FutureChef Competition. Preparing for the National Final and looking back over the 3 previous heats in which Miranda has triumphed, she said she is so grateful to say, “I am a FutureChef Regional Final Winner”. We wish Miranda the best of luck in the National Final!
Well done to all our competitors across the length and breadth of the UK; there was an unbelievable level of talent displayed, and we are already looking forward to next year’s exciting BakeOff Competition!
Published: 24th February 2022
Last edited: 24th February 2022