Katherine Ruffalls from Nourish Catering wins first SCOTY regional final
The first SCOTY regional final took place at Brakes’ Kitchen in Reading. This year the SCOTY competition is sponsored by Bistro from Premier Foods. The competition is run by the School Food People and aims to demonstrate the importance of high-quality cooking in school meals.
Competitors must prepare, cook and present four portions of a main course and dessert with a maximum food cost of £1.75 per head in 90 minutes that meet the School Food Standards and Eat Well Guide.
Katherine, who is from Pinner Park Primary School, made a millet crusted coley served with garlic potatoes, beet puree, vegetables and a creamy bean sauce for her main course.
For dessert, she created a chocolate orange slice served with a tuile biscuit. The regional final winner 'wowed' the judges with her two dishes - a fantastic combination of creativity and flavour.
Regional final winners will each receive a £100 cash prize and advance to the SCOTY final at The School Food Show and Forum.
At the final, the national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2026 School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.