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After nine years of running the Scottish School Cook of The Year competition, in 2023 ASSIST FM decided to widen the scope by opening the criteria and running the ASSIST Scottish Local Authority Cook of the Year competition.

The competition challenges people who work within the Local Authority and school meals sector to devise new and exciting recipes that can be produced for large-scale catering whilst giving participants the opportunity to showcase their finesse and presentation skills to competition standard.

Each cook must submit a three-course meal which should be based around their everyday school menu. The finalists include:

• Joss Bartleet, catering locality manager (City of Edinburgh Council/Catering North East)
• Sunita Myatt, area supervisor from Hacklegith Primary School (Dumfries & Galloway Council)
• Melanie Anderson, training development chef from St Joseph's Academy (East Ayrshire Council)
• Maria Millar, area officer from Knox Academy (East Lothian Council)
• Anne Marie French, catering co-ordinator from Galashields Academy (Scottish Borders Council)
• Michelle Muir, catering officer from East Plean Primary School (Stirling Council)
• Christopher Herd, area catering manager from Whitehills Primary School (Tayside Contracts)
• Katarzyna Kowalska, area manager from Brannock High School (North Lanarkshire Council)

The winning starter, main course and dessert will be cooked and presented at the ASSIST FM National Conference and Gala Dinner in May where the overall winner will be announced. The judges will base their decisions on the taste, appearance, reflection to guidelines and textures of the three course meal.

Nicky Joiner, chair of ASSIST FM, said: “Participants are tasked with creating a three-course meal reflects the standards of their everyday school menus, emphasising sustainability, economical purchasing, and the use of quality Scottish ingredients. We are very grateful to our sponsor, Brakes for their support of our organisation and for their continued sponsorship.”