A talented young chef and avid Masterchef fan cooked his way to victory at this week’s Cornwall Area round of the Rotary Young Chef competition.

Richard Lander School student Dexter Bastin impressed judges with his attractive and varied menu, confident and consistent cooking abilities and incredible flavours. 

Seven young chefs from Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn and Truro schools (all winners of previous rounds of the competition) were asked to cook three courses for two people with a budget of £15. 

As well as judging the appearance and taste of the dishes, judges John Felton, chef at Gylly Beach Cafe in Falmouth and Andrew Basso, from Fifteen Cornwall, also awarded marks for menu planning, costing sheet, table layout, food served at correct temperature, cleanliness of work station, food presentation, and the skills used in cooking.

Helping to ensure that the young chefs stayed calm under pressure amidst the whirlwind of chopping, stirring, basting, whisking, blending, frying and roasting was Richard Lander School teacher Lauren Jones.

“It was a very close competition as the overall standard of cooking was so high” said John.

Andrew added: “Everyone worked very hard and it was fantastic to see such incredible dishes produced by the young chefs in just two hours.  “All the students stayed calm under pressure and their food looked and tasted amazing.”

Announcing 11 year old Dexter as the eventual winner, the two judges praised his work ethic, his confidence and the consistency of his cooking, adding that the quality of his starter had “blown them away”.

Rather than cook the same menu as the previous round, Dexter chose to change all three dishes – giving himself a huge amount of work to do.

His winning menu included a timbale of smoked haddock served on granary toast and a lemon and mustard dressing, followed by chicken breast stuffed with home made pesto wrapped in bacon and cavolo nero served on a bed of crushed baby potatoes with a pesto cream sauce and a tarte au citron.

Second place went to Neave Moore, from Falmouth School, who served a starter of warm goat's cheese rice paper parcels, served with burnt leek and a trio of beetroot; a main course of poached plaice fillet with spinach, asparagus, baby potatoes and a beurre blanc sauce and a dessert of cherry chocolate mousse

Third place went to Tiffany Postle, also from Richard Lander School, whose trio of dishes included stuffed mushrooms with goats cheese, Ghana Masala served with warm chapatis and a mint and dark chocolate mousse. 

The prizes, which included vouchers from Gylly Beach cafe and Fifteen Cornwall, were presented by Nick Pickles, Rotary Young Chef District Co-ordinator South West Peninsula.

Also taking part in the competition were:

Charlotte Ahearne, from Penryn College who served seared scallops on a bed of cavalo nero and shallots with garlic and nero; curried vegetable pie serve with herb salad, roasted jazzy potatoes with garlic and rosemary and dark chocolate souffle served with a raspberry coulis.

Sophia Murjaneh, also from Penryn College, who served roasted red pepper stuffed with cherry tomatoes, anchovies, fresh basil, and sprinkled with halloumi cheese served on a bed of green leaves; pan fried marinated loin of lamb, served with rainbow chard, with herby minced lamb and rice, tzatziki, tabbouleh ad flat bread and profiteroles filled with cream topped with chocolate sauce

Abbie Naylor, from Camborne Science and International Academy,  who served a variety of crispy croustades filled with cannellini bean puree with coriander, pesto and grilled sweet peppers; Greek spinach and feta filo pastry pie served with lemon and parsley baby potatoes and baked figs spiced with cinnamon and honey served with thick low fat Greek yoghurt.

Thomas Wright, from Falmouth School, who served roasted vegetables and goats cheese stack with balsamic glaze; lemon and garlic brown butter scallops served with straw chips, pea shoots and pea puree, and mini lemon meringue pies with raspberry coulis.

Dexter, Neave and Tiffany will now go through to the District round of the competition which will take place in Camborne on February 2.

Three winners of this round will then compete in the Regional round which will be held in Exeter on March 30, with the finals taking place in Leeds on 27 April.