Young cooks in final of contest for scholarship

7:25pm Friday 4th April 2008

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TWO young East Lancashire chefs have reached the final of a prestigious competition which could see them win the ultimate catering scholarship.

Tom Parker and Michael Eminson, who work at Northcote Manor in Langho, will travel to Belfast next week for the final of the Robbie Millar Scholarship.

On Tuesday they will compete against six other young chefs from around the UK when they have to create a three-course menu from a basket of mystery ingredients.

A panel of judges, including top TV chefs Paul Rankin and Michael Deane, will sample all the menus and the winning cook will get the chance to work with some of the world's finest food and wine experts.

Tom, 18, from Fence and Michael, 20 from Ightenhill, Burnley, are currently on the Northcote Manor apprentice scheme which sees them working in the award-winning kitchen and attending Nelson and Colne College on day release as they work towards their NVQ in catering.

To reach Tuesday's final both had to design, cook and photograph a three-course menu and recommend suitable wines to accompany each course.

Tom's menu was smoked eel followed by beef with marrowbone and wild mushrooms and rhubarb and blood orange compote with sheep's milk ice cream.

For Michael, his winning menu included shrimp onion risotto, loin of Bowland lamb with cauliflower puree and pearl barley and melting ginger pudding.

Tom said: "We have done a couple of practice sessions working with a mystery basket and it's tough. It is great to get to the final and we'll just have to see what happens."

Michael, who like Tom is a former pupil of St Wilfrid's High School in Blackburn, added: "Just to get to Belfast is a great achievement."

Northcote Manor's award-winning chef Nigel Haworth will be flying out with the duo to support them at the final.

The scholarship, launched last year in memory of Robbie Millar, a Michelin-starred chef who was killed in a road accident, will see the winner going on work placements to the River Café in London where Jamie Oliver trained, with Illy Coffee in Italy and Vairhona Chocolate in France.