MERICI College have been crowned the champions of the Teen Chefs 2012 competition held at Belconnen Fresh Food Markets yesterday. 

The cooking competition for students in years 9 – 12 saw the Merici team battle it out with other finalist teams from Stromlo High School and Daramalan College to cook a three course menu, with an additional dish thrown in by Chef Tom Moore for the final cook-off.

Cooking up a gourmet feast, the Merici team served up a spread of proscuitto, pear and pomegranate salad, roast spatchcock with lemon garlic butter and rhubarb, raspberry, pomegranate and vanilla cobblers.

The judges, including Moore and local radio stars Rod and Biggzy, were “blown away” by the sheer talent and skills all the students displayed in the cook-off.

“I can honestly say that some of the food served up by these kids is better than some of the restaurants I’ve eaten at in Canberra,” says Rod.

Judges said they were looking for a number of elements in yesterday’s cook-off such as flavour, innovation, creativity, use of fresh ingredients, team work and the ability to manage their time.

“The skill level and quality of food produced by the students today is by the far the best we’ve in the four years of running this competition,”
says Moore.

Team members from Merici College won with an Acer tablet, Nokia 5000 mobile phone with 6 months service, honorary induction into the For Chefs apprentice program and $200 worth of Belconnen Fresh Food Markets gift vouchers.

Entries for Teen Chefs 2013 will open in June 2013.

For more information visit: www.teenchefs.com.au