Northampton student Lawrenze is a chef for the futur

Held in the kitchens at Northampton College, the competition saw Lawrenze Denton produce a ‘perfectly-cooked’ salmon fillet and a ‘well-balanced’ apple crumble.

The 14-year-old has now won the chance to represent Northamptonshire in the 
regional finals of a search to find the nation’s top young chef.

His main course of salmon with a potato and pea rosti, black pudding and a watercress sauce won rave reviews from the judges, who were also impressed with his apple and cinnamon crumble with custard.

Sophie Green, youth programmes manager for FutureChef organiser Springboard, said: “The competition is a fantastic way for young people to get into cooking and learn valuable life skills which can be put into practice every day.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiasm young 
people have for cooking and the standard is unbelievable.

“Lawrenze now has the chance to take his dishes to the next level ahead of the regional final next year.”

Lawrenze will now spend time with head judge Richard Walker, chef at Fawsley Hall Hotel, who will act as his personal mentor to prepare him for the next round of cooking, which takes place in Loughborough in February.

Lawrenze narrowly defeated Sponne School’s Sam Butler, 16.