Britain’s top school chef Alison Gann, who recently won LACA’s School Chef of the Year competition, entertained a high level visitor at her school when Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, paid a visit.
Alison, who is Cook Manager at Claverham Community College in Battle, East Sussex, was promised a visit by the Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle after won the South East regional round to claim her place in the SCoTY 2012 final.
At the time Barker wished her success and promised a visit on June 22nd to see for himself her skills, regardless of how she did in the final, little knowing he would then be visiting the national champion.
Before the visit he said: “I am looking forward to meeting local school chef Alison Gann at Claverham Community College to congratulate her on winning the LACA School Chef of the Year Award.
“This is a tremendous achievement and the pupils at the college are very lucky to have such an accomplished chef preparing their food.
“Hopefully, I might get to sample Alison’s winning signature dish of Makhani Chicken which sounds far more exciting than anything I can remember having at school; back then every meal seemed to be served with a generous helping of boiled cabbage.”
Alison’s winning dishes were: Main Course - Makhani Chicken with Jasmine infused Rice, Cucumber Raita, Chapatti Flat Breads and Apricot Chutney; Dessert - Kashmir Pineapple Pudding (pineapple with a baked custard).
School Chef of the Year 2012 is organised annually by LACA (Local Authority Caterers Association) and sponsored by MAGGI from Nestlé Professional.
In the national final on May 23rd at Winchester in Hampshire Alison used MAGGI Rich & Rustic Tomato Sauce in her main course and the Nestlé’s Carnation Condensed Milk Light in her dessert.
Contestants in the LACA School Chef of the Year Competition are asked to cook a main course and dessert suitable for an11-year-old spending no more than £1.50 per child on the whole meal.
Influences and flavours from the Orient and Asia to Latin America and the Caribbean dominated the National Final menus this year.