School chef Mark bids to cook up a winner for £1.30

A DERBY school chef is in the running to be crowned the best in the East Midlands.

Mark Dwyer, of Grampian Primary Academy, will battle it out for the accolade at the LACA School Chef of the Year regional finals in January.

The 35-year-old will face a panel of judges as he prepares a main course and a dessert suitable for 11-year-old children in school.

Competing against four other school chefs across the East Midlands, he will have 90 minutes and a maximum spend of £1.30 allowed for the cost of the meal.

The overall winner will go on to represent the East Midlands against nine other regional champions in the national final in March.

Mr Dwyer, who has worked at the school for four years, will cook a calzone with roasted vegetables and tomato for his main course along with a side of cucumber salad.

For dessert he is serving up a chocolate crumble pot, complete with fresh strawberries and coconut date truffle.

Mr Dwyer said: “I’m feeling really positive about it. I’m extremely excited. The kids wish me luck every single day. It’s really funny being interviewed by them.

“I have two fun, balanced dishes and it’s the food I’d like to eat. It means a lot to hear the well wishes from the

Mark Dwyer children. They give me so much support.

“It’s the best job in the world, the staff and children are really happy. It’s a joy to go to work every day.”

The LACA School Chef of the Year Competition was created to allow school chefs to showcase their skills. It is organised by the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) and is sponsored by McDougalls.

The East Midlands regional finalists are Mark Dwyer from Derby; Lucy Ison from Stoke Golding, near Nuneaton; Anna Knight from Netherfield, Nottingham, and Sara Franklin from Bugbrooke, near Northampton.