THE CHOCOLATE curls threatened to melt but Macksville schoolboy Harry Mitchell remained cucumber cool as he powered his way to a major prize at the Future Chef competition on the Coffs Coast.
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Harry’s successful dish was beetroot and chilli chocolate brownies, which saw him named as the most improved in the event.
While the final before the live judging of Joel McCulla (head chef at Zulus, Coffs Harbour), Julie Carlisle (food writer and photographer) and Shaun Sheather (Australian Gourmet Traveller and Food Guide) was a tense affair, Harry was already battle hardened after coming through the heats at Macksville High.
He was the school’s entrant in the senior section of Future Chef, while Kimberly George and Lily Moore flew the flag in the junior division.
The regional final was held at C-Ex Coffs Harbour, and competitors had to create three plates - one to be photographed, one to be tasted by the judges and the other to be sampled by the public.
And the young cooks had just one hour to get to the pass.
While the heat in the unfamiliar kitchen played havoc with his chocolate curls, Harry told the Guardian he was otherwise relaxed and focussed throughout the cook-off.
The Year 11 student had spent considerable time practising the dish, which was inspired by his friend and mentor, Penny Moran.
The prize for the Most Improved honour saw Harry win an heirloom cookbook and he has also been invited to help prepare a six course degustation menu at Zulus in May.
None prouder of Harry’s achievement is Margie Orman, head teacher of home economics at Macksville High.
“It was a real delight to see him come through,” Margie said.
Harry, who already works at the Nambucca Valley Care kitchen as part of a school based traineeship, is aiming for a career in the industry, possibly as a food blogger or in food photography.