It’s stirring stuff, but young chef falls at the final hurdle

Emma Sturrock, a fifth-year pupil at Preston Lodge High School, had travelled to Abingdon near Oxford to compete in the Rotary Young Chef competition against seven other young chefs.

The contestants prepared three-course meals for an expert judging panel – including Danilo Trozzi, head chef of Fellippo Berio, Lizzie Kamenetzky, food editor from Delicious Magazine, and last year’s winner Olly McGeorge.

Isabelle Chavez, 15, from Fleet, scooped the top chef title.

Emma’s home economics teacher, Pamela Hogg, who was there to cheer her on, said: “Emma put on a fantastic array of dishes but despite her best efforts she didn’t get into the first three. The standard of cooking was exceptional.”

Also there to lend support were Emma’s parents and three members of the Long- niddry Rotary Club.

“We were all proud of the way she conducted herself under enormous pressure. She has been a great credit to the school to get through all the heats and cook at this level,” said Ms Hogg.

“Many thanks to Derek Johnstone, head chef at Greywalls Hotel, for all the support and encouragement he has given Emma over the last few months.”