Sandwick duo cook their way to the Royal Highland Show
CAITHNESS teams took two of the top three places in the Highland Young Farmers’ Clubs regional elimination for the Scotch Beef Country Cooks Competition, although it was a duo from Orkney to cooked their way to top spot to secure a place at this year's Royal Highland Show.
The event was held on Saturday at Thurso High School, with support from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Seventeen teams of two club members from throughout the region were given one hour to cook dishes using a bag of unknown ingredients including Scotch beef mince, sweet potato, long grain rice, puff pastry, apple, pepper, kidney beans and smoked cheese, without the aid of a recipe books.
Judges Helen Campbell and Anne Frew scored the teams based on all aspects of the finished dishes, including hygiene, technical skill and teamwork.
Helen said: “It was great to see so many teams of all ages take part, and not one was fazed by not knowing what ingredients they were going to get. All dishes that were turned out were very good and I would like to congratulate them all on taking part."
Winners Rachel Isbister and Jessica Rendall from Sandwick YFC, who scored 85.5 points, will go on to represent the Highland region at the Royal Highland Show. This was the first time an Orkney team had taken part in the competition.
They will be cooking against the East region on the Thursday of the Royal Highland Show at the QMS stand.
In second place were Gemma Duguid and Katie Mackinnon from Bower YFC with 85 points and third were Halkirk YFC’s Kirsty Fraser and Laura Doull with 79.5.
