Teen chef through to regional cookery finals after impressing judges in school competition

Lawrenze Denton, 14, of Northampton School for Boys (NSB), cooked up a storm to reach Springboard’s FutureChef Regional Final this week.

The competition took place at Northampton College where four aspiring chefs competed in an annual competition, which is said to teach students a life skill.

The aspiring chef said: “I’ve enjoyed today and I cannot believe I have won. I am considering becoming a chef and enjoy cooking.”

Lawrenze served up a delicious menu of salmon with a potato and pea rosti, accompanied by black pudding and watercress, finsihed off with apple crumble with custard for dessert.

The FutureChef nationwide scheme aims to tackle the severe skills shortage facing hospitality by inspiring 12-16-year-olds to develop their cooking skills and understanding of nutrition.

Head judge Richard Walker, of Handpicked, said: “I’m extremely impressed by the standards on show. I didn’t start cooking until I was 17 and I barely knew what a new potato looked like at that stage so for these guys to have this level of ability at 14 is mind-blowing.”

The Springboard charity FutureChef contest featured a four stage national competition, annually involving more than 8,000 participants and the national final will be hosted in London on Monday, March 27.

Springboard regional manager Sophie said: “Springboard’s FutureChef was developed as a result of research into young people’s ideas about the hospitality industry. Research revealed that young people really admire high-profile celebrity chefs, yet surprisingly few genuinely consider a career as a chef! Springboard’s FutureChef provides teachers and young people with a wonderful insight into the wealth of career opportunities that the hospitality sector has to offer.”