Pictured, at the 2024 Created in Cavan Schools Young Cook of the Year competition are, back row left to right: Cllr Sarah O’Reilly; Pauric White, Tutor, Commis Chef Programme, Cavan Institute; Leas-Chathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Carmel Brady, Jessica McMahon and Grace Briody, Breifne College; Lily Muldoon, Coláiste Dún an Rí; Megan Smith, St Clare's College, Ballyjamesduff; Ryan Lavelle, Coláiste Dún an Rí; Aoibheann Crawford, St Clare's College; Nina Wilczynski, Royal School; Oscar Rea, St Pat’s; Tierna Smyth, Royal School; Joseph Faulkner, St Pat’s; Evie Gaffney and Caoimhe O Reilly, Bailieborough Community School; Michelle Marron, Commis Chef Programme manager, Cavan Institute; Siobhan Sheils, Food Strategy Coordinator, Cavan County Council; Cllr Trevor Smith. Front row, left to right: Sarah Reynolds & Muireann Daly, St Aidens Comprehensive School, Cootehill, competition winners; Irene White, Cavan Institute, Judge; Katrina Murphy; Katrina’s Artisan Cakes; Norbert Neylon, Chef Proprietor Oak Room Restaurant; Niamh Boyle Drought and Jenna Smith, Loreto College, runners-up.

‘Created In Cavan’ Schools Young Cook of the Year 2023/2024

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Cavan Institute hosted the third annual ‘Created in Cavan’ Young Cook of the Year Competition on January 17, with Transition Year students from across Cavan braving the icy conditions to showcase their culinary skills.

The competition, organised by Cavan Food Network in conjunction with Cavan County Council, Cavan Institute and Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), encourages secondary schools to promote Cavan food, educating and informing future generations about the importance of supporting our local food and drink industry. The project also encourages young people to explore a career within the hospitality sector.

This year the competition welcomed some new entrants, with eight schools participating: St Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff; St Patrick’s College; Loreto College; Bailieborough Community School; Coláiste Dún an Rí, Kingscourt; Breifne College; Royal School and St Aidan’s Comprehensive.

Each school had an internal competition to select its representatives.

Students prepared two courses, using as much produce as possible from ‘Created in Cavan’ members. Students had two hours to prepare, cook, and present their dishes to the three judges: Norbert Neylon, Chef Proprietor of The Oak Ro om Restaurant, Katrina Murphy from Katrina’s Artisan Cakes, and Irene Whelan, professional cookery tutor at Cavan Institute.

Norbert Neylon thanked the teachers and commended the students saying: “I know it’s not easy for students coming in, walking into a kitchen that you’ve never cooked in before. It can be very daunting. So well done, you’ve done really well to get this far.”

Leas-Chathaoirleach of Cavan County Council Cllr Carmel Brady said: “It’s great to be associated with this event. We have fabulous produce in Cavan, and the more we can promote that the better.”

The third place on the day went to Nina Wilczynski and Tierna Smyth from The Royal School, Cavan, who prepared creamy chicken and Corleggy cheese pesto pasta and banana and chocolate pudding and ice cream. In second place were Jenna Smith and Niamh Boyle Dro ught from Loreto College, Cavan. They cooked a stuffed chick en breast with sun dried tomato sauce with a chocolate brownie and ice cream for dessert.

First place was awarded to new entrants St Aidan’s Comprehensive School Cootehill represented by Sarah Reynolds and Muireann Daly who wowed with chicken enchiladas and a lemon cake. The judges were impressed by the blend of spices in the enchiladas. Each participant was presented with a Created in Cavan goodie bag.

First and second-placed teams, St Aidan’s and Loreto College, will now complete in the Regional Final of Young Cook of the Year on April 17. For more information on how you can get involv ed with Created in Cavan as a food business, producer, or food ret ailer, contact food@cavancoco.ie

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