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Bridget makes regional final of School Chef of the Year
WHATS COOKING .... Bridget McCulla was South Tynesides representative in the regional School Chef of the Year.
SCHOOL chef Bridget McCulla was served with a real challenge when she represented South Tyneside in a national cooking contest.
Mrs McCulla, who works at Jarrow School in Field Terrace, Jarrow, was one of seven school cooks to make it through to the North East and Scotland regional finals of School Chef of the Year competition.
The contestants battled it out at Newcastle College’s LifeStyle Academy, when they were asked to create a main course and dessert suitable for an 11-year-old – but spend no more than £1.50 on the whole meal.
Mrs McCulla, who lives in Calf Close, Jarrow, dished up Ye Olde English chicken and leek casserole, with mash and roasted vegetables, followed by a slice of fruit sunshine for dessert.
The contestants are given one-and-a-half hours to cook and serve up four helpings of the two-course meal.
She said: “In the run-up to the competition, I was trying different recipes out on the kids in the school and asking them which ones were their favourites.
“Taking part in the competition is really good fun, even though it’s something I never thought I’d be doing when I first took the job.
“I took part last year too and made it to the same stage.”
Unfortunately, the mum-of-four missed out on a place in the next round.
The competition was judged by Lee Davison, chef lecturer at Newcastle College, two school pupils, a local authority catering expert and a leading dietitian.
Contestants were also judged on presentation and tasked with creating information boards about their dishes.
Mrs McCulla gave her food an Anglo-Saxon and Viking theme, decorated her table accordingly, and displayed information about what was typically eaten in those times.
She said: “It’s a lot more than just turning up on the day and cooking something.
“It’s a lot of hard work but a great thing to be part of.
“It is a bit nerve-racking but I think being there last year let me know what to expect so it wasn’t too bad.
“Hopefully, I’ll be back again next year.”
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Weather for Jarrow
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
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Wind direction: North east
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