Wicklow student is Neven Maguire cookery competition finalist

Amelia Bowe, a 3rd Year student, was a finalist in the Junior Category of the Healthy Home Cook Competiton, held in Atlantic Technological University St Angelas, Sligo on April 30. The All-Island Cook Off final was judged by a panel of experts including award-winning chef Neven Maguire.

Sadly, while Amelia did not emerge as the winner, the experience, together with the achievement of reaching the final from 180 schools, has been a huge accomplishment for the home economics student. And, she may even consider pursuing a career in the industry.

She had to reproduce her own dish during the competition – chicken tikka masala with homemade soft bread and basmati rice, including making her own bread – in a professional kitchen with the other 15 finalists.

Her dad, Ken, who is a professional chef at the Wishing Well, in Blackrock, south Dublin, said Amelia made “everything from scratch”, even her own curry paste for the dish, which impressed Neven and the judging panel. Ken added that Amelia, while coming from good stock, “did it all on her own”.

On whether she has plans to follow in her father's footsteps and enter the industry, she said “other people are asking me this, and I say possibly, like possibly."

She is starting work in a couple of weeks as a prep chef, which will give her a taste of what it's like. But as Ken said, “this industry is not for everybody”.

The Healthy Home Chef cookery competition aims to give students an opportunity to create tasty, nutritious and affordable meals at home. Students are asked to submit their favourite healthy meal (main course dish only) for two people and the competition is open to all students in post-primary schools on the island of Ireland and Youthreach Centres in the Republic of Ireland.