Each year, a culinary competition in the UK involves hundreds of schools and thousands of students. 15-year-old Kristen Nugent won the latest edition from Northern Ireland, hoping to restore the appeal of the food industry among young people.
The news
It's never too early to lace up your apron start cooking. Kristen Nugent is just 15 years-old, a student originally from Killeeshil, Northern Ireland; yet she has already hit the headlines for her culinary talents. She is from Great Britain, where the Springboard Future Chef competition is held every year to encourage young people to pursue careers in the food service industry. This time, there were hundreds of schools and thousands of students involved. So that Kristen finally declared that she was “over the moon.” Up for grabs is the chance to work alongside celebrity chefs at the Royal Ascot equestrian event in June.
In the final competition held in London, Kristen – who was selected from 1,500 Northern Irish youth and was supported by her mother's cheers of encouragement – competed against 11 peers from the rest of the country. "The pressure was on, I think there were about 10 judges, so I tried to keep calm. Honestly the first hour things weren't going my way, but I got a thirty-second break and got back on track. What a surprise, I still can't believe it." Convincing the judges was her Smoked Rainbow Trout with Lemon Confit Rillette, Fried Egg, Chive Mashed Potatoes, Pickled Vegetables, and Herb Butter Sauce.
@SpringboardFutureChef
"I'm excited, we always knew [she] had a little spark for cooking. We've always tried to nurture it, but we're proud of the hard work and the long sessions she's put in," commented her mother, Edel. For his part, coach James Devine, 2017 Chef of the Year, added, "Unfortunately for me, the time for competitions is over, but coaching and serving as a mentor is an exciting outlet. I am delighted for Kristen, the industry needs more passionate young people, and this competition is a great catalyst."
Even in Northern Ireland, in fact, the appeal of food service industry is declining in five years, jobs in this sector has dropped from 37,000 to 29,000 and apprenticeships from 528 to 196. But Kristen wants to help reverse the trend: "I know I need to finish my studies; today, however, I feel even more confident about my decision to cook and become a chef. One day I hope to open my own restaurant."
Source: BBC News
