Ludlow pupil crowned chef of the year

A Shropshire pupil was over the moon at having been crowned young chef of the year in schools competition, overseen by none other than the multi-Michelin-starred Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Katie Wright, a year 10 pupil at Ludlow School, bagged the top prize at cook-off finals in Birmingham and got to meet Jean-Christophe who gave her tips on her cooking.

The annual competition for those over 12 was put on by Alliance in Partnership (AiP) a specialist in education catering that provides food and food services to primary and secondary schools.

Katie, from Bucknell, near Ludlow, was selected for the finals after winning an in-school competition at Ludlow School. Winners at participating schools were then assessed and a handful of lucky young chefs selected for the finals at University of Birmingham School.

The competition was judged by a team of professional chefs led by Novelli and contestants were judged on their preparation, planning, presentation and taste.

Katie, who attended with her mum Debra Wright, chose to cook a vegetarian dish of beetroot and butternut squash ravioli, with spinach puree and an orange butter sauce.

She said: "I really enjoyed taking part. The standard of the other entries was very high so I was delighted to win. Jean-Christophe Novelli gave very helpful feedback about my dish and the venue was really well equipped and the staff were very helpful and supportive."

French chef Novelli is a five-out-of-five AA Rosette and Michelin star-holding chef whose face is familiar from lots of TV appearances over the years, including on ITV's Hell's Kitchen, daytime show This Morning and his own show Chef Academy on satellite channel Bravo TV.

Along with her title, Katie has won a trophy, a computer tablet, a signed cookery book, a set of chef’s knives, a hat, apron and chef’s whites.

She will now also get to spend the day in the development kitchen to hone her already considerable skills.