Published on: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
With the scent of determination mixed with fresh ingredients filling the air, our Leiths Cookery School was transformed into a vibrant battlefield. It was here that our boarding house teams, both juniors and seniors over two evenings, took on the exhilarating challenge of our annual MasterChef competition.
Given a mere £25 and 90 minutes, their task was not just to cook, but to create - to spin simple ingredients into a 3-course symphony of tastes that would impress not just anyone, but two esteemed professional chefs, Amanda Williams and former King's pupil Ross Stacey, and the discerning palate of our Headmaster, Mr Sloan. This wasn't simply a contest. It was a showcase of the culinary talents, teamwork, and creativity that thrives within the hearts and minds of our pupils.
On offer were some fantastically creative culinary delights. Chocolate desserts are usually a popular offering, and this year was no exception. Hand-rolled pasta, carefully crafted profiteroles and perfectly formed meringue comprised just a few of the very notable entries. It was a close call, but the eventual winner of the junior event was Taylor House, and the winner of the senior event was Carpenter House.
The competition is always a popular and fun event, with houseparents and supporters from each house popping by to taste the appetising food being produced. Amanda commented: "Some fabulous food produced by a fun bunch of young people, great flavours, range of textures, and ideas that are on-trend with the current food market."
Mr Sloan commented: "I have been bowled over by the technical skill, imagination, flair and culinary ability displayed in the kitchen by our pupils. The food they produced within the budget and time constraints of the competition was truly delicious; many congratulations to all of the teams who took part!"
It has been noticeable over the years how the standard of cooking in the event has improved; a direct result of the cookery courses on offer to pupils at King’s. Younger pupils can opt for a cookery option on Friday afternoons, while seniors are able to take the more serious Leiths Cookery qualification.
