Local Girl through to National Final

Local school girl Emily Shaw, of Luckley-Oakfield school in Wokingham, was the winner of the regional final of the Rotary Club “Young Chef” competition held at The Warriners School, Bloxham. The competition was judged by famous chef Raymond Blanc and by Tony Baldry MP.

Emily’s path to success started last November when she won the local heat of this annual national competition, organised by the Rotary Clubs of Ascot, Bracknell and Wokingham at the Licensed Victuallers School in Ascot. In February she was the winner of the zone final in Banbury, and now she has won the regional final.

In his summing up, the judge, top chef Raymond Blanc, OBE, was very complimentary about all the contestants and enthused about Emily’s ability. He volunteered a wonderful offer that all the contestants could spend half a day in the kitchens of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, his Michelin-starred restaurant, but, in Emily’s case, 2 whole days with an overnight stay! Emily now goes forward to the national final in London on April 19th.