Ellen cooks up a culinary win (From Penarth Times)

Ellen cooks up a culinary win

A DINAS Powys girl has won a regional chef competition.

St Cyres pupil Ellen Williams, 13, of Brookside, won the local Vale of Glamorgan Springboard UK Future Chef 2003 final.

She said: "I enjoy cooking. At home I cook for my family.

I don't know if I will become a cook. At the competition I was not overwhelmed by using the kitchen there.

Before I prepared my menu I wrote a method which made it easy to finish my food."

Ellen added that getting into the Wales final was good, but she is nervous.

Springboard who organised the event are a national company who promote food technology.

Her food technology teacher at St Cyres, Catherine Staples said: "It is obvious Ellen has a flair for cooking.

That is why I chose her to represent the school.

There was a contest to find the best chef out of the year 9, 10 and 11 pupils."

To help Ellen with the contest she had a mentor from local restaurant The Huntsman in Dinas Powys.

Hillary Rice helped to choose and plan the menu of chicken and wild mushroom risotto, rocket leaves with a beef tomato drizzled with balsamic vinegar dressing.

The desert was fresh strawberries with kiwis and a mixed coulis.

Kevin Fairlie, a judge at the final and a lecturer in food technology at Barry College, said:

"Ellen was awarded 84 out of 100 for her menu. She was the youngest competitor at thirteen years of age.

But all the youngsters were excellent. They were all between the ages of 13 to 16."

He added that it is good to see young people taking such an interest in food technology.

The Wales final will take place on January 23 and the winner of that will go through to the national final at Westminster College, London.