A soldier from Earith is hoping to come out on top in a cooking competition involving chefs from across the army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Private Vanesa Nephew, a chef serving with 1st Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, based in Germany, has spent the last two weeks practising in the kitchens perfecting her signature dish ahead of Exercise Joint Caterer, to be held next week.

Her first competition, Pte Nephew said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge although a little apprehensive of cooking in front of an audience. I will be cooking an Asian lamb dish which is something new for me so I have had a lot to learn with all the different techniques and flavours involved, but everyone has been so helpful and supportive.”

Exercise Joint Caterer will see chefs from across the three services compete against each other in the flagship annual catering event and provides a unique arena for them to showcase their culinary skills with the chefs being marked on the flavouring and presentation of their dishes plus their kitchen skills and techniques.

For Pte Nephew, who has been a chef in the army for four years, the competition represents a change from her normal duties and gives her a chance of demonstrating her skills and passion for cooking:

She said: “Earlier this year I deployed to Canada where I was regularly cooking for 1,000 soldiers and now I will be preparing fine dining for a panel of judges. That’s what great about this job there are always different challenges to overcome.”