13 young people took part in a cook-off through the Foundry DofE Award Unit as part of their training for the expedition section of the Award. The challenge was to cook a two-course meal using trangia camping stoves in teams of two people. The ingredients and menu had to be decided and bought by the young people, with points being given for presentation and taste. The seven teams produced varied dishes: Kirree & Voirrey Swift - Mexican tortillas Rich chocolate sauce with cream Sam & Jake Hewins - Bacon, cream sauce and pasta Chocolate mousse Katie & Alice Watson - Queenies, bacon & chorizo Thai green curry Naz Singprasert & Eleanor Devereau - Oriental style noodles with prawn crackers & hot chilli sauce Egg fried rice with chicken Jared More & Josh Riordan - Pasta & pesto with bacon and salad Stewed fruit Juan Riordan - BBB (Brilliant British Breakfast) Hannah & Sam Riordan- Pasta in a creamy sauce with bacon and peas Chocolate crispy cakes Debbie Carcas, Unit Leader, said: “We started this last year and the winners produced a very impressive meal, the challenge takes place in the outdoors in keeping with the DofE expedition experience. We would love to involve any other groups in the future?” The judge was Alison Gawne, Awards’ Co-ordinator with the Department of Education and Children Youth Service, who herself had the big challenge of marking the dishes. She said: “Each group of young people had worked really hard, planning their menu, buying the ingredients and then cooking them on trangias to a limited time. Every meal was delicious and it was very difficult to find a winner!” The eventual winners were Naz and Eleanor and they were awarded a chocolate tablet each, iced with ‘TRANGIA MASTERCHEF 2011’. Two extra prizes were presented to Juan & Kirree for putting in an extra effort against the odds. Debbie said: “This was a fun way to get the young people to think of cooking different and varied dishes, that they may not consider whilst on expedition.” ENDS