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Michelin-star judges give top marks to chef A young
aspiring chef overcame a series of cooking conundrums to take third place
in a prestigious competition in London.
Sinéad Finnigan whose grandparents are from Co. Mayo was cooking
a four-course meal at the finals of the Young Chef Young Waiter Competition
2007 when her ovens broke-down just as she was making her trade mark lemon
tart desert.
After four attempts the 22-year-old finally came-up trumps and against
all the odds managed to still clinch a top-spot in the contest.
Speaking after the competition in Westminster College she said: “I’m
disappointed and delighted at the same time.
“It certainly was a testing time for me being under such pressure.
“I couldn’t believe my bad luck when the stoves packed-up
but I just had to continue on.
“I’m happy that I came third but who knows if the odds hadn’t
been stacked against me then I could have came top.”
Sinéad who was the only female in the competition is delighted
with the £500 prize money which will help fund her trip to Thailand
and Malaysia at the end of the month.
And as part of her prize the Manchester lass also won a week’s work
experience at a top Michelin-star restaurant in London.
She said: “The competition has been a great experience for me.
“I got very positive feedback from all the judges and that is a
great boost.
“I’m looking forward to taking a break now and seeing some
of the world.
“I hope to come back with new cooking skills and I’ll be definitely
up for entering again next year.
“I’m looking forward to my work experience when I get back.”
As part of the competition contestants had to prepare a four-course meal
for six people in just under three-and-a-half hours.
The meals were cooked from a surprise basket containing rabbit, sweetbreads,
chicken liver and white fish. |
