Doon Academy’s Amy Gibson is on course to become Ayrshire’s young master chef
16 December
Well done to Amy Gibson who beat 17 other teenagers in a cook-off to win a place in a young master chef final!
The 14-year-old, from Doon Academy, competed in the hard-fought competition at The Cook School Scotland and will now represent East Ayrshire in the last heat of the Ayrshire contest.
The cook-off was for S3 pupils studying Home Economics/Hospitality and to qualify, budding chefs prepared a main course for two in class on a budget of no more than £5.
The top two from each school were selected to compete in the East Ayrshire heat.
The girls will return to Cook School in January to pick up tips and ideas from top chefs, before the final, when they will compete in the kitchen against six pupils from North and South Ayrshire for the master chef trophy.
Craig Stevenson, managing director of Braehead Foods, is one of the business leaders backing the council’s £1 million business enterprise programme in secondary schools, which aims to help make pupils ready for the world of work.
He said: “This was an exciting opportunity for young people to work with and learn from experienced chefs.”
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: “It was a great pleasure to see the very high standard of results.
"I know the chefs were impressed by all the young people, who coped extremely well in new surroundings and prepared delicious dishes on limited budgets.
“This partnership between schools and mentor Craig Stevenson is an example of the type of initiative which will help make our pupils more business-ready – by working in real-life situations with the best in the business.”
Along with Amy, the fab four who made it through against stiff culinary competition to represent East Ayrshire in the final were Emily Hood, 13 (Grange Academy), Shannon Gallacher, 14 (Loudoun Academy), and Lauren McNaughton, 14 (Cumnock Academy).
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