Students Show Skill and Innovation to Reach Scotch Beef Aspiring Young Chef Final

Two North East Scotland College students have made it to the final of the Taste of Grampian Scotch Beef Aspiring Young Chef Challenge.

The finalists - Brogan Tilney from Aberdeen and Eilidh Davidson from Mintlaw - are set to battle it out this weekend in the final of the competition which takes place on Saturday June 6th during Taste of Grampian at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie.

The competition - designed around Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink’s ‘Future of Food’ theme for June – is aimed at allowing young chefs to demonstrate  their innovation and culinary talent.

The “Scotch Beef Aspiring Young Chef Challenge” - sponsored by Quality Meat Scotland – is open to working commis chefs, college pupils and school pupils aged 16-19 and this weekend’s final will be judged by award-winning cook and food writer, Lady Claire Macdonald.

This year’s finalists - shortlisted from written applications by an independent judging panel - will don their aprons to create a two course menu comprising of a main course and dessert, using as much local produce as possible.  The finalist entrants were selected from seven shortlisted  young chefs.

Brogan Tilney, who won the competition last year, has chosen a menu of Saddle of Scotch Lamb, with chive and grain mustard mousseline, rosti potato, smoked bacon, baby onion, broad beans and madeira sauce.

Eilidh Davidson’s menu is Fillet of Scotch Beef, glazed potatoes, leek and mushroom stew, red wine and shallot sauce.

The gold award winner will receive a Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland Scholarship tailored to their future career; a £200 voucher for kitchen equipment; and a signed cook book.  The silver award winner will receive a £100 voucher with those shortlisted receiving a £50 voucher.

John Gregor, Chairman of Taste of Grampian and Executive Director at the ANM Group, said: “The aim of this initiative is to encourage young people  who are interested in a career in the hospitality industry and to give recognition to their skills and enthusiasm. The Challenge also makes for a great spectacle at Taste of Grampian and we hope our visitors will support them.”

Uel Morton, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland, which supports the initiative, added: “This competition is a great opportunity to educate and encourage young people to fully appreciate the value of sourcing top quality produce, available all year round, such as Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork.

“Our congratulations to the finalists and our best wishes to all the entrants for successful future careers in the food industry.”

The final will take place from 9.30 am in Ring 2 at Taste of Grampian, Thainstone Centre, Inverurie on Saturday 6th June. The winner will be announced at 12.15 pm in Ring 2.