Students in Jersey are invited to start a new course this year – by creating a main dish that incorporates the finest ingredients that the Island has to offer.
The annual JCG Skills for Life Cookery Competition is open to all secondary school students in Jersey. It aims to capture the spirit of such popular programmes as The Great British Bake Off and Masterchef as well as teach key skills to young people.
This year, the competition has a new main sponsor. Genuine Jersey – which was established 15 years ago to promote the diversity and quality of local produce and products – has committed to support Skills for Life for the next three years.
Many schools take part but young Islanders also enter independently to test their culinary flair.
The competition is open to students in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 (ages 11 – 18). They must create a main course of their choice that uses local Jersey produce. After devising a mouth-watering recipe that is balanced and nutritious, students must then cook their dish in under an hour. It is judged by a panel of experts.
There are a number of prizes and trophies on offer which have been generously sponsored by Dunn Ross, Rondel’s Farm Shop, the Boat House, Jersey Markets, the Pedley family, Longueville Manor, Mange Tout, Modern Hotels and Genuine Jersey.
The competition takes place in October but entry forms need to be submitted by the end of September.
Competition organiser Antoinette De Louche, who is Head of HE Food and Nutrition at Jersey College for Girls, said: “The Skills for Life competition not only teaches essential cooking skills but it is also a wonderful opportunity to promote and raise awareness of the many benefits of using local produce to young people.
“There have been major changes to the GCSE Food and Nutrition specifications this year and students now have to understand the provenance, seasonality and sustainability of produce. The competition supports all of these objectives and it is wonderful to have Genuine Jersey as our main sponsor this year.”
Genuine Jersey Chief Executive John Garton said: “This is a great community competition which complements our own aims and objectives. The annual Genuine Jersey Royal Potato Growing Competition helps to raise awareness of where our food comes from among primary school pupils so I’m pleased that we can now help spread the message to secondary school students. I’m sure that the competition will reveal some real talent as well as some delicious recipes.”
