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O
ver the course of five weeks, nine Year 9 pupils
were put through their paces as we baked and rose
to different challenges like the real Bake Off! We made
a Signature bread and cookie; for Technical we were
faced with lemon and raspberry roulade and a decadent
chocolate fondant. However during the final week we
each had to make our own Show Stopper cake. It was
difficult to imagine how we would do this in the limited
time we had after school but we decorated a range of
cake sizes, shapes and flavours. Amongst the tension and
competitive spirit it was amazing to watch the variety of
master pieces evolving with intricate details and creative
techniques. They ranged from a chocolate truffle cake to a
large Christmas tree cake. Each was unique in its own way.
Like the real Bake Off we were left waiting
until after the Christmas holidays to find
out the results! The results were eventually
announced in our year assembly; Anisha
Mehta won the best Signature Baker, Mollie
Dyer won the best Technical Baker and I
won the overall Star Baker. It was a brilliant
challenge and experience and we all enjoyed
every moment (even when it didn’t go well)!
Taia Tunstall 9F
T
aking part in the Bake Off caused both excitement
and fear – once we were inside the Bake Off tent also
known as Food Room 1, the competitive spirit gave way
to bring a group of Year 9 girls together as we shared
the ups and downs of this great experience. The fun and
camaraderie continued as we gathered around the judging
tables to taste the bakes and to support each other when
things didn’t quite go to plan. The hardest challenge was
making the chocolate fondants – even some of the best
chefs struggle with this master skill. By week four it had
really set in that we were coming to the end of this great
time together but our competitive rivalry peaked in the
approach to Show Stopper week as we tried to discover
each other’s plan for the grand cake…..and that’s when
the real fun began!!
Mollie Dyer 9C
YEAR 7 FOOD CLUB
I
have been in Food Club since December and I have really enjoyed it! I have
learnt many useful cooking skills and had lots of fun doing so. So far we
have made dippy divers, rock cakes, fruit kebabs with a chocolate dip and
an impressive veggie tart! They were so delicious and my family were really
impressed by what I had made. I can't wait to learn more by making lots of
yummy treats!
Urvi Varsani 7B
What Has Been Happening ThisYear...?
We’ve had a busy and exciting time and we are only half way through!
WGGS BAKE OFF
A
t the beginning of January Russell Bateman (Head Chef of ‘Colette’s Restaurant’ at The Grove) came to visit a group of Year
9s. During his time at Watford Girls, he talked all about his life, work and achievements, and also gave us a demo of two
different meals- a non-vegetarian meal and a vegetarian meal.
Russell Bateman told us all about his childhood and how his love of cooking started: from talking about the simple but delicious
sandwiches made by his grandparents when he was young, to tales of his surprise when he discovered lots of people wanted
to choose Home Economics (now Food Nutrition) for GCSEs like him. There were plenty of interesting and engaging stories
that made us realize we too can achieve what he has, if we put our minds to it. Bateman continued to talk about his career and
how he’s managed to become the Head Chef at such a successful restaurant as Colette’s, in The Grove itself. Following this, he
started a demo of two meals - a fresh pasta butternut squash ravioli dish and pan fried cod with a leek puree.
He explained some of the methods he was using, told us about the importance of the different ingredients and evenmentioned
how we could apply some of the cooking methods to other recipes, all whilst working away. Although this was all fascinating,
I think all the Year 9s can agree that the best part of the session was the tasting! We all managed to get a taste of at least
one of the dishes, and it’s safe to say every single Year 9 went home extremely satisfied. It was a brilliant session and we are
extremely grateful to Russell Bateman for dedicating his time to us.
Lily Maguire 9F
F
ood Club has been an incredible experience and an amazing opportunity
for me. It has been so much fun and in addition I have learnt an awful
lot. It has introduced me to the real world of cuisine - both preparation and
practical cooking. Over the weeks, we made many different recipes starting
off with the simple dishes to the more challenging ones. Some examples
include the mouth-watering vegetable pie, delicious chopped fruit with
melted chocolate sauce, ravishing rock cakes. Feedback from my family is
that they tasted absolutely scrumptious and they want me to make these
tasty recipes again. I am looking forward to experimenting with new recipes
next term!
Krisha Shah 7D
VISIT FROM RUSSELl BATEMAN
FOOD & NUTRITION
