GOURMET food was whipped up by three talented youngsters from Christchurch schools as part of this year’s Food Festival.

Cool-headed students from the Grange, Highcliffe and Twynham schools impressed judge and chef Lesley Waters with their wide range of skills as they cooked a two-course meal in front of fellow students and guests in the demonstration marquee in Wick Lane car park.

The junior cooks had been tasked with creating a menu suitable for the Olympic village.

Winner, Eva Gallagher, from Highcliffe, took the top spot after her dishes of open ravioli with butternut squash and a porcini mushroom sauce followed by blueberry tart could not be faulted.

Fellow competitor Callum Bandey from The Grange cooked up duck with mashed potato and blackcurrant sauce with a chocolate cheesecake detailing the Olympic rings in fruit, while Michael Legg from Twynham cooked duck with a mango salsa and raspberry soufflé for dessert.

Judge Lesley Waters said: “During the semi-finals we gave the finalists pointers on how to improve their dishes and they have all implemented them.

“They are so focused – it is quite something to watch them.

“The smells coming from those stoves are mouth-watering.”

As part of the 10-day festival, on Saturday the Great British Bake Day and Fete will take place at Christchurch Quay.

Inspired by the boom in baking, organisers The Captain’s Club and Frettens Solicitors will welcome the winner of BBC’s The Great British Bake-Off, Jo Wheatley.

Events will start at 10am and include a vintage tea room, a pop-up Champagne bar and Captain’s Club restaurant.

There will also be other stalls selling breads, cheeses and cakes with a fete area complete with games including tea cup rides, a helter skelter and bouncy castles as well as many more activities.

Tim Lloyd, food festival committee member and director of the hotel, said: “This is the first time this event has taken place so we’d love to see lots of people and families there.

“We’ve got 85 people competing in the cake contest, which is brilliant. Jo Wheatley will be very busy.”