Professional Cookery announced as winner of Estuary TV’s Reality Bites

Level 3 Professional Cookery student, Sarah Robson, was recently announced as the winner of Estuary TV’s Reality Bites, which saw eight of the best catering students from across our region pitted them against each other in the kitchens of some of the very best restaurants in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The programme was presented by Steven Bennett, known as the Lincolnshire Chef who was joined by BBC presenter Blair Jacobs and Paralympian Liz McTernan who tested their taste buds as judges.

Stepping out of the classroom for the very first time, the students’ skills were tested to the limit when they were tasked with delivering in a professional, working kitchen. Aspiring chefs of tomorrow from Lincoln College, East Riding College, Grimsby Institute and Scarborough TEC, were challenged to prepare and cook dishes selected by some of the most talented and experienced Head Chefs in the region.

Sarah, 19, said: “This is the first competition I’ve ever done and it was a good experience for me.  It was great to work in different kitchens under pressure and keep trying to beat my personal best and find out the experiences of the Head Chefs.

“For the final I cooked two dishes; Salt & Pepper Scallops with a Pea Puree & Chorizo and Roast Duck & Juniper with Fondant Potatoes & Asparagus. I was really, really nervous and it was added pressure cooking in front of the TV cameras. I was really pleased to win the competition and my family were so proud.”

Allyson Croucher, Head of Service Industries at Scarborough TEC, said: “This is such a massive springboard for Sarah, it puts her name above others when employers are looking for someone to work for them.

“The fact that Sarah has gone out of her comfort zone to take part in Reality Bites says volumes about her attitude to her craft and her career and we’re all incredibly proud of what she has achieved.”