Dairy Council Young School of the Year Competition 2017

Ellie McDowell, Year 9 pupil from Down High School, proved herself to be a talented chef and impressed judges with her culinary skills at the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland 2017 Young Cook of the Year Final. She cooked a first-class meal inspired by her use of Northern Ireland dairy produce. Ellie’s menu consisted of a parcel of free-range Carnbrooke Chicken with herb stuffing, wrapped in award winning Fermanagh black bacon. This was served on a bed of buttery champ, and accompanied with Mourne Mountain honey-glazed market vegetables, broccoli cheese and homemade gravy.

Competing against the clock in a live cook off at Ballyclare Secondary School, Ellie was awarded the overall Key Stage 3 winner demonstrating her cooking skills and nutritional knowledge.
It was also a great opportunity for Ellie to meet, Mark Abbott, who made it through to the banquet on Great British Menu 2016. Mark is head chef at Daniel Clifford’s Midsummer House which holds two stars in the Michelin Guide UK and 4 rosettes in the AA Restaurant Guide. To be praised by such an accomplished chef demonstrates the calibre of Ellie’s cooking. Well done.