THREE teenagers from Huntingdonshire put their culinary skills to the test at the weekend when they competed in the Rotary Young Chefs contest. The three faced competition from another 10 young chefs from schools in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincol

THREE teenagers from Huntingdonshire put their culinary skills to the test at the weekend when they competed in the Rotary Young Chefs contest.

The three faced competition from another 10 young chefs from schools in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire as they prepared a meal for two on a budget of £12.

Mary Hodgson-Jones, 15, from Kimbolton, Bernadette Vose, 14, from Hartford, a pupil at St Peter's School, and Thomas Mitcham, 14, a pupil at St Ivo School all took part in the event, which is sponsored by Waitrose, at Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon,

They were allowed 30 minutes to prepare and two hours to complete the meal.

The winner, who will go on to the regional finals in Nottingham on March 8, was Afaf Jackson, 14, from Sleaford in Lincolnshire.

The contest ends with a national final in London in April.

Afaf created a starter of smoked salmon pate with lemon cup, a main course of roast honey and cumin chicken with Moroccan vegetables and cous cous, followed by a dessert of panettone pudding with cherry coulis, fresh cherries and cream. Afaf won £50 for herself and £40 for her school.

The judges were Robert Presland, head of food technology at Peterborough Regional College, Michael Gunney, head of catering at Waresley Golf Club, and Ian Campbell, head chef at the Three Horseshoes at Abbots Ripton.