King’s College pupils presented masterful culinary delights at the recent annual inter-house Masterchef competition.
With the scent of determination mixed with fresh ingredients filling the air, the King’s College Leiths Cookery School was transformed into a vibrant battlefield this week. It was here that the boarding house teams, both juniors and seniors took on the exhilarating challenge of their annual MasterChef competition.
Given a mere £25 and 90 minutes, the pupils’ task was not just to cook, but to create by to spinning simple ingredients into a three-course symphony of tastes that would impress not just anyone, but two esteemed professional chefs, Amanda Williams and former King’s pupil Ross Stacey, not to mention the discerning palate of Headmaster, Mr Sloan. This wasn’t simply a contest, it was a showcase of the culinary talents and teamwork that thrives within the hearts and minds of the King’s College pupils.
On offer were some fantastically culinary delights. Chocolate desserts are usually a popular offering, and this year was no exception. Hand-rolled pasta, carefully crafted profiteroles and perfectly formed meringue comprised just a few of the very notable entries. It was a close call, but the eventual winner of the junior event was Taylor House and the winner of the senior event was Carpenter House.
The competition is always a popular and fun event, with houseparents and supporters from each house popping by to taste the appetising food being produced. Judge Amanda Williams commented: “Some fabulous food was produced by a fun bunch of young people; great flavours, a range of textures and ideas that are on-trend with the current food market.”
Mr Sloan reflected: “I’ve been bowled over by the technical skill, imagination, flair and culinary ability displayed in the kitchen by our pupils. The food they produced within the budget and time constraints of the competition was truly delicious; many congratulations to all of the teams who took part.”
It has been noticeable how the standard of cooking at the event has improved over the years as a direct result of the cookery courses available to pupils at King’s College. Younger pupils can opt for a cookery option on Friday afternoons, whilst seniors are able to take the more serious Leiths Cookery qualification that covers healthy menu planning, practical food preparation and hygiene.