It's Bournemouth v Hampshire in the battle of the chefs (From Bournemouth Echo)

Michelin-starred Alan Murchison launches schools food challenge

2:00pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Paula Roberts

MICHELIN-starred chef Alan Murchison visited Bournemouth Collegiate School to launch their exciting new fine dining challenge.

The TV star, who is a regular on BBC’S The Great British Menu, The Hairy Bikers and Market Kitchen, spoke to pupils in assembly at the Southbourne school about life as a chef.

He then spoke about the Hotel TerraVina Fine Dining Challenge and Battle of the Counties – which will see pupils from Bournemouth and Hampshire Collegiate Schools go head to head in the kitchen.

Students will be challenged to create their own three course meal, sourcing ingredients from the county they live in.

The entries will be judged in two categories – Years 7-9 and Years 10-13 – and the winner from each category will get the chance to spend the morning with the chefs at Hotel TerraVina in Hampshire.

The overall winner will be treated to dinner at the hotel and see their top dish appear on the menu.

Alan said: “I am really looking forward to seeing the menus from the pupils.”

He told them: “Aim for excellence, set high standards and be passionate.

“Put lots of thought in to how you will source your ingredients from within Dorset."

BCS Year 8 pupil Ben Cavill added: “I’m looking forward to creating an interesting and tasty menu.

“At BCS we all want to make sure that Dorset wins this challenge.”