Move over Delia!
School chefs from across Wales are gearing up for the next round in the School Chef of the Year Competition taking place on 6th February and Rhondda Cynon Taf’s very own finalist Tracey Gibby, from Porth Junior School is all set to cook up a storm. The School Chef of the Year Competition is organised by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) and is sponsored by Maggi from Nestle Professional.
Tracey was commended for the “outstanding” quality and nutritional value of her meals during the local heats, which took place at Porth County Community School kitchen in November, the four entrants were: Karen Chilcott, from Tref y Rhyg Primary School, Sue John from YGGG Llantrisant, Tracey Gibby from Porth Junior School and Wendy Laing, from Caradog Primary School.
Tracey fought off some tough competition from her fellow colleagues in the Council’s Catering Services department and was crowned Rhondda Cynon Taf’s School Chef of the Year.
Tracey scooped the top prize in the Rhondda Cynon Taf ‘heat’ with her delicious menu of ’rheola’ rolled chicken with ‘sosban fach’ sauce, served with ‘Rhondda’ roasts, duchess potato, and a carrot and leek bundle. She rounded-off her meal with mouth-watering ‘Porth’ puffs served with honey and snowflake drizzle.
Tracey will be recreating this delicious menu during the Welsh Regional phase of the competition and hoping to win a place in the National finals, which are sent to take place in May 2010.
Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning said:
“We wish Tracey the best of luck in the Welsh finals and I am sure all will agree our school pupils are very lucky to be served such delicious, high standard food by cooks across the County Borough.
“They are an asset to us and we hope pupils continue to indulge and enjoy school meals, especially now the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, in terms of the standard of our cooks.”
