Brynwgyn Comprehensive School pupil Tegan Andrews had her chef’s hat on again to help cook a special dinner for members of Llanelli Rotary Club and their guests at the Stradey Park Hotel.
Tegan, 14, was the winner of the 2014 Young Chef competition staged by Llanelli Rotary Club. She also won the inaugural competition last year.
Since that first victory, Tegan has been gaining experience helping in the kitchen of the Stradey Park Hotel and other restaurants in Llanelli.
This year, she also won her way through to the regional final of the national Rotary Young Chef competition staged in Stoke.
“Tegan has been a wonderful ambassador for Llanelli Rotary Club,” said club president Ken Abban.
“She was a worthy winner of our Llanelli Rotary Young Chef competition and performed with distinction in subsequent competitions.”
Tegan’s culinary skills came to the fore again when she cooked dinner for more than 50 Rotarians and their guests at the club’s weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel.
Tegan’s menu featured a scallops starter, duck main course and cheesecake dessert.
“It was scrumptious,” said Llanelli Rotary Club Young Chef competition organiser Alison Evans.
“Tegan is a wonderful advertisement for the Young Chef competition. She has picked up a whole host of new skills since being involved in the competition.
“The competition itself is a wonderful opportunity for school pupils to try their hand in a cooking competition. It is open to boys and girls and we will be looking for plenty of entries for the Llanelli event when it starts again early next year.”
Tegan said she was very grateful to Llanelli Rotary Club for their help and the opportunity to take part in the competition.
She also thanked the staff at the Stradey Park Hotel and the competition judges for their encouragement.
“Organising a menu for such a large number of people is a big challenge. Obviously, I was nervous to be cooking for so many people at the Rotary Club, but I was made to feel very welcome and everyone seemed to enjoy the food!”
The Young Chef competition was open to students aged 11 to 17 years.
The challenge was to prepare a three-course meal for two people in two hours, with a budget of £15.
The Rotary R.I.B.I.Young Chef competition is designed to encourage young people to:
· Develop cookery skills
· Develop food presentation skills
· Consider healthy eating options and food hygiene issues
· Prove their organisational and planning skills
· Prove their ability to cope in a demanding situation.