ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL 2007

Local children star attraction at Abergavenny Food Festival

PRESS RELEASE - 19th September 2007

The finals of this year’s Primary Schools’ Cookery Competition took place on Sunday 16 September in Abergavenny’s Victorian Market Hall. Performing to a rapt audience, Libby Smith, Lauren Deacon and Hannah McCormick delighted everyone with their culinary prowess. Libby prepared Chicken Kiev with rosemary new potatoes and salad, Hannah contributed salmon paté with hand-made oatcakes, and Lauren made a pasta bake.

The judges - Julie Barratt, Director of the Chartered Insititute of Environmental Health Wales, Iain Sampson (Head Chef at The Newbridge) and Abergavenny’s own Franco Taruschio OBE were hugely impressed by the standard of the participants.

First prize of a culinary multi-blender and Jamie Oliver’s latest cookbook was finally awarded to Libby Smith from Ysgol Gymraeg y Fenni. She has also won her school a £400 cash prize. Lauren Deacon from Llantilio Pertholey Primary School and Hannah McCormick from Govilon Primary School were the well-deserving runners’-up, and each received a smoothie-maker. All three participants received a copy of Angela Hartnett’s latest book, Cucina: Three Generations of Italian Family Cooking.

The event was sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Wales. Director Julie Barratt said: “Sponsoring the Primary Schools’ Cookery Competition has been extremely worthwhile and allowed us to promote healthy eating and basic food hygiene messages to a large group of our target audience.

“The support we had from the celebrity chefs in the judging panel was great and has raised our profile significantly.

The event has allowed us to make some useful contacts which will prove to be valuable in the long-term.

“The final cook-off also provided us with a valuable opportunity to address the audience directly about CIEH training events.”

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For further information, please contact Cathy Green, Press and Marketing Officer on 01873 851643
or e:mail cathy@abergavennyfoodfestival.com