The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
School chef is in the mix for award success
AStromness school chef is in the running to be the best in Scotland, while her loyal band of pupils say she’s a shoo-in for the title of UK 2021 School Chef of the Year.
Stromness Primary students will tell you that Karen Bevan has been serving up delicious meals all year long. And now she has the chance to prove herself to a much wider audience.
Ms Bevan was recently shortlisted for the LACA
School Chef of the Year, North East & Scotland Regional finals.
The competition is sponsored by meat replacement company Quorn, and in true chef competition tradition, competitors are judged on two courses.
Competitors have to use one Quorn product in the main and create a dessert made mostly from fruit.
In keeping with the spirit of the school chef ’s mission, the meal has to meet school nutrition standards and cannot cost more than £1.40 per person.
Although standards will be high for the regional final, the discerning tastes of Ms Bevan’s everyday judges have prepared her for anything.
When Ms Bevan competes in the regional later this month, she will have the backing of her island supporters.
Orkney Schools catering manager Scott Pring said: “The dishes Karen has created are strong and technically challenging in
the timescale as well as super tasty.
“I am hopeful she makes the final, however just to get to the regionals is an achievement in itself.”
Many of her Stromness cafeteria customers spoke of why Ms Bevan is the best school chef.
Although, like her husband, not all the students seemed ready to
buy in to the meat-free theme of the competition.
When she started preparing for the competition, Ms Bevan approached the obvious first-choice taste testers: Her family.
“They were brutally honest, as kids are. My husband enjoyed his role as taster but, as a lover of meat, has requested that
the next competition be a Scotch Beef competition with Orkney beef, of course!
“Quorn is very versatile and suited to this dish even though the same main course would traditionally be made with pork, or you could substitute with chicken.
“It’s good to have variety in your diet.”