Ffion has her sights set on top culinary honour

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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 07:57

Mid Wales schoolgirl Ffion Evans is hoping to deliver a recipe for success when she competes in the FutureChef Wales regional final.

Ffion, 15, a pupil of Caereinion High School, Llanfair Caereinion, has already won school and local heats to reach the regional final at Yale College, Wrexham on February 10, where the winner go through to the national final in London in March.

She is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Luke Thomas from Connah's Quay, who was FutureChef UK champion last year. More than 700 schools have entered this year's competition, which aims to inspire young people aged 12-16 years to explore food and cooking as a life skill and encourage them to enter the hospitality industry.

Ffion is being supported by her GCSE catering and hospitality teacher Sue Miller Jones and her mentor, leading Welsh chef Nick Davies, a director of Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool and a gold medal winning member of the Welsh National Culinary Team.

Mr Davies is convinced Ffion has what it takes to become a talented chef. "She really is a cool character who works well under pressure and listens to advice," he said. "It also helps that her mum, Caroline, is a good cook. I think Ffion has the capabilities of making a good quality chef."

He urged other experienced chefs in Wales to engage with schools to identify and mentor talented young cooks, as they represent the future of the hospitality industry.

In the regional final, Ffion is sticking with the menu that brought her success in the last round at Coleg Powys in Newtown, although she plans to further perfect the dishes.

Her main course is pan-fried medallion of Welsh Beef sirloin, roast thyme potatoes, wilted green cabbage and crispy bacon, garlic squash puree, parsnip crisps and port mushroom jus. Dessert is white chocolate and Penderyn panecotta with an autumn berry compote and dark chocolate orange ice cream.

Ffion, who will have 90 minutes to cook the dishes, is looking forward to the regional heat and is targeting a place in the national final.

"I love cooking different dishes and experimenting with cooking methods," said the teenager, who works in the kitchen at the Corn Store restaurant in Welshpool in her spare time. "Nick is a brilliant mentor because he is so patient and shows me how to put different dishes together."

As for a future career, her ideal job would combine her two great loves: sport and cookery.

Now in its 10th year, FutureChef introduces young people to cooking, helps to develop their skills, develops direct work experience in the industry and provides expert advice on the career options and entry routes available.