Warsop and Shirebrook: Joe leads the way as budding chefs cook up a treat

Young cook of the year: Joe Morrell, Adam Wardle and Abbie Topham are pictured left to right.

Joe Morrell was the cream of the crop at The Rotary Club of Warsop, Shirebrook and District Young Chef competition for 13 to 15-year-olds.

He beat off the competition at Shirebrook Academy in a field on 10 contestants.

Five pupils from Meden Academy and ﬁve from Shirebrook Academy were selected to take part.

They prepared a main course and a dessert in two hours, with 30 minutes preparation allowed.

Each competitor was allowed £10 to purchase their food, of which the rotary club contributed £5.

Representing Shirebrook Academy were McKinley Burdett, Adam Wardle, Abbie Topham, Destiny Evans and Tony Askew.

Cooking for Meden Academy were Oliver Bates, Jack O’Donnell, Angel Bamford, Cerys Ball and Morrell who was awarded %30 for his success and will now go forward to the District 1220 competition.

Abbie Topham came second and was awarded £30 and Adam Wardle took third and £20. All contestants received a certificate in recognition of their efforts.

The three judges were Lynne Goff (former restaurant owner and Goff’s Butchers), Judy Elliott (Cordon Bleu cook and former quarter ﬁnalist in BBC Masterchef) and Rob Pasierb (Rick Stein-trained amateur chef).

Richard Goad, the competition rotary club lead, said: “Following an extremely close competition, during which all contestants produced excellent food, the judges came to a unanimous decision.”