Two schools from Donegal have been announced as finalists for the Mount Charles Big School Cook Off, going forward to the regional heats stage of the nationwide competition to find the cookery talent of tomorrow.
Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town and last year’s regional winner Scoil Mhuire in Milford (pictured above) have been shortlisted from over 200 entries from post primary schools across Northern Ireland and Donegal.
The first stage of the competition, which is run by Mount Charles, Ireland’s largest locally-owned foodservice and business support services company, tasked entrants to submit a creative recipe idea for a main course to feed two people, using locally sourced ingredients and working to a budget of £5 in total.
Regional heats will take place across the country in January 2018, with the two teams shortlisted from Donegal – Chloe Boyle and Amy Gallagher from Abbey Vocational School and Tommy Walls and Oisin Riney from Scoil Mhuire, Milford – cooking their recipe submission.
The finalists will be judged on the day, with the winning team from each heat going forward to cook their recipe once again at the grand final in March 2018 for their chance to be crowned the Mount Charles Big School Cook Off Champions!
Cathal Geoghegan, Managing Director at Mount Charles said: “The Big School Cook off is now in its second year and having been truly overwhelmed by the response and quality of the entries first time around, it is suffice to say the second year has not disappointed. There was incredible talent in the submissions we received, making it a real challenge to arrive at a shortlist.
“Entrants’ presentation, use and range of ingredients, as well as overall creativity was incredible and we can’t wait to get the chance to try our favourites in the regional heats.”
Each winning team at the regional heats will receive a cheque for £200 for their school and a masterclass in cookery from Mount Charles Group Development Chef, Simon Toye, previously Executive Chef at the Michelin-starred Deanes restaurant in Belfast.
The overall winning team at the grand final will receive a cheque for £300 for their school, as well as a treat for their family, with a meal for four at the award winning George’s of The Market restaurant and tickets to see the Belfast Giants ice hockey team at the SSE Arena in Belfast.
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