CATERING students from North Herts College have won a super chef competition.

The Ready Steady Cook-styled competition, sponsored by Waitrose and Blue Arrow Recruitment, took place over two days with more than 20 catering students taking part.

The students were given a list of ingredients which they were each required to use to produce a main course menu and one and a half hours to prepare, cook and serve the dishes.

Students were then put through their paces as Scott Liversedge, head chef at Redcoats Farmhouse Hotel, Simon Kirbyshire, customer service manager for Waitrose and Lawrence Anscomb, catering consultant for Blue Arrow Recruitment, judged the dishes.

James Potter, 16, and Adam Goff, 17, both from Stevenage, were declared the winners.

James’ dish consisted of stuffed chicken breast with mozzarella and bacon, Lyonnais potato and glazed carrots, while Adam served up lemon sole with a spinach and parsley crust stuffed with brunoise of braised vegetables, pommes Anna potatoes and a courgette, tomato and lemon bake.

Speaking after the win, Adam said: “The competition has helped me to improve my fish filleting, skinning and boning techniques, I’ve been practising lots over the past week.”

Competition judge and head chef at the venue Scott Liversedge added: “This is the second year the competition has run and the students are improving each year. It gives them an understanding of the real world and what we are looking for in the industry. It’s a great way to end the college year.”