CHEFS of the future battled it out in a cooking competition organised by Bournemouth Rotary Club.

Eleven pupils from nine secondary schools in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch had their culinary skills put to the test as they cooked, chopped and sautéed their way through the Rotary Young Chef area finals.

Each competitor, aged between 13 and 17, had to design, prepare and create a healthy two-course meal for two, made within two hours and crafted for no more than £6 a head, which would then be put before the judges.

Mike Preen, from Bournemouth Rotary Club, organised the competition, which took place at Bournemouth & Poole College, in the Escoffier Restaurant.

He said: “They were whittled down from 23 secondary schools in the area, and the finalists will go on to the district final in February and potentially the national final in April.

“To get to this stage of the competition, means that they have already had to prove themselves.

“Each of those taking part was judged on their menu, organisational skills, planning and time use, amongst other things.”

The three judges for the competition were Tony Taylor, chef tutor at Bournemouth and Poole College, Colin Nash, Head Chef at The Three Tuns in Bransgore and Mike Dwyer, President of Bournemouth Rotary Club.

Colin Nash, said: “They have all done brilliantly, considering that they were under the pressure to perform – I’ve been there myself and I know that pressure.

“They are so young and yet you can see that some of these people are the chefs of the future.

“For all I know, some of them may be working with me in 10 years’ time.

“I was looking at the skills they use, to see what they do and don’t know and then finally the colours, flavour and overall presentation.

“It was exciting to be in a room full of young chefs, to watch what they do and see what they came up with.”

The overall winner of this competition was Isabel Pinckston, 13, from Talbot Heath School, who created five-spice duck with spiced choi noodles, followed by a trio of winter fruit tarts.

She said: “I quite enjoy Chinese food and trying things from different areas, so that’s where I came up with the idea for this.

“I always watch cooking programmes and my family are keen on cooking anyway.

“I’m really excited to have got through.”

Isabel is guaranteed a place in the finals to be held on February 25 at Ferndown Upper School.

Morgan Dew, 14, from Avonbourne School was the runner-up after cooking rocket pigeon with potato chips and boiled cabbage, followed by a Belgian chocolate mousse with fresh cream.

She said: “My whole family is in the catering industry, so cooking is something that I have always done.