High school youngsters serve up haute cuisine on a tight budget
Six culinary geniuses from Oban High School went head to head in December in the final of the Rotary Club of Oban Young Chef competition.
The finalists were required to cook two courses (starter and main or main and dessert) and had a maximum budget of £15 to spend on ingredients.
They then had to plan and cook their menu and consider issues such as nutrition, health and cost.
The pupils received guidance from their home economics teacher Hannah Douglas and John McNulty, chef patron of the Etive Restaurant, while the competition was judged by Rotary Club of Oban president Douglas Small, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (policy lead for education, Argyll and Bute Council), John McNulty (chef patron, Etive Restaurant) and David Lapsley (sommelier patron, Etive Restaurant).
Winning overall for his mouthwatering menu of Chicken Caesar Salad and Crepes with Orange Sauce was Dylan Squire, who received the unanimous acclaim of the judges.
Mr Small said: 'The Rotary Club of Oban is extremely grateful to Oban High School for its support of all our youth competitions and in particular this one which requires the use of school facilities.
'We particularly appreciate the fantastic support given by Peter Bain, OHS head teacher, Hannah Douglas and our external judges John McNulty and David Lapsley.'
Fulsome praise of the effort and quality of food produced by all competitors was made by the panel, which also announced Findlay McTavish and Angel Buick as joint runners-up.