Youngsters from West Cornwall cooked up a storm in the area final of a national cookery competition.

Eight youngsters from Humphry Davy and Cape Cornwall schools show-cased their culinary talents in the area final of the Young Chef Competition, which was held at Penwith College in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Penzance New Generations Team.

The competition, run by the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, in association with olive oil brand Filippo Berio, aims to help encourage and develop creativity in young people.

The students, aged between 13 and 16, each produced a two-course meal which was judged by three local professional chefs - Stewart Eddy from the Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe and The Square, Porthleven; Kevin Montague from the Beach Restaurant, Sennen; and Bruce Rennie from the Gurnards Head, near Zennor.

The chefs were judged on budgeting and healthy menu, hygiene and preparation and the overall presentation and taste of the food.

The winner of the competition was Jack Etteridge. Jack cooked a Thai chicken massaman curry with jasmine rice and a vanilla panna cotta with stewed berries. He will now go through to the district final in Helston.

The judges said that all of the young people competing “did a great job” and “kept calm under pressure, worked to a strict timescale and produced some wonderful food.”

Diane Hickman, from the Penzance branch of Rotary International, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this national project. West Cornwall has a heritage of great food and we hope this event encourages young people to get cooking and bring their individual styles to the competition.”

The guests were catered for by Penwith College's professional cookery students who work in the college's brand new professional kitchen and restaurant. The restaurant is open to the public from noon to 2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Photo supplied. Caption: The young people who took part in the area final of the Young Chef Competition, held at Penwith College.