C
ake, brownies, pizza, nachos, tarts, cookies, milkshake, popcorn! Teams
from each form in Year 9 put on their aprons and took part in an ‘Apprentice
Challenge’, making these items and many more to sell during the interval of
the school’s production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’. The job was fairly daunting;
catering for the large audience coming to see the excellent show was not an
easy task. However, we readily took up the challenge, and started off by putting
our green hats on and thinking of what we would make. Because this was an
inter-form challenge, with all proceeds going to our class charities, we definitely
felt the competitive spirit rising and everyone became rather secretive about
what they would make. Going about our normal school day, it was difficult
to maintain this level of secrecy to ensure that our ideas remained as strictly
classified information!
The teams had to decide on how to manage the jobs as there was so much to be
done; advertising, table décor, costing and of course, the cooking! After all our
planning and enthusiasm, we were almost bursting with excited anticipation
by the time the week of the production arrived. On Tuesday evening, our team
trooped to the supermarket to buy our ingredients and got together for a final
run-through of what we would do the next day. The actual making of the food
was by far the highlight of the event for us because it all came together and every
form created marvellous products for the sale. Competitive spirits momentarily
forgotten, the atmosphere in the food rooms was fun and lively. The night of
the show finally arrived, and after school we began our final preparations. The
teams raced to bag their tables in the Food Factory; the last couple of items
were made and heated up, and our tables were laid. Although the day before
had been comparatively relaxed, the moment which would determine the
winners of the challenge was fast approaching, and in true Apprentice style
tensions were high.
The sight of all the tables full of our delicious canapés and sweet treats was very satisfying after all our hard work. After
the first half of the production, we raced back to the food factory for the final leg of the competition. We had just twenty
minutes to sell, sell and sell as much food as we could, hoping our tasty looking dishes would tempt the customers and that
we would make the most money to win the task. It was both tense and tiring - but also very rewarding!
After taking part in this challenge, we are all now anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winning team. We are
definitely not going to be biased and say that we believe our form was the best! Regardless of whoever the winners are we
all thoroughly loved taking part in the challenge and raising a total of £268 for the Year 9 charities! We would like to end by
saying a massive thank you to the Food and Nutrition teachers who organised it.
Anisha Mehta & Maya Harji 9A
Looking forward to the rest of the year…..
Following the success of our Healthy Eating Week last year, we will be
running lots of exciting activities during this year’s national event which
will be 13th to 17th June 2016. Look out for the activities you will be
able to take part in during the summer term.
J
ess:
In November, Lauren and I were entered in the
Young Chef of the Year competition that encourages
children to cook and prepare healthy meals. The task
brief was to cook a two course meal for two people.
The criteria stated that the task had to be completed
within two hours and at the cost of just £10 or under.
L
auren:
On the day of the competition we headed to
West Herts College, excited but nervous. When we
arrived we were shown around the industrial kitchen
by professional chefs, including head chef of Collette’s
at The Grove, Russell Bateman. The professional
chefs were very welcoming although we were slightly
intimidated! The industrial kitchens were massive and
the new state-of-the- art equipment was hard to adjust
to!
J
ess:
After two hours of stressful cooking we both
finished our dishes happy with what we had
accomplished and relieved that everything went to
plan. After allowing the judges, family friends and other
competitors the chance to taste our dishes, the judges
went off to make their final decision. They considered
our presentation of both our dish and table, the overall
flavour of our dish, our organisation and skills in the
kitchen and also our ability to follow the £10 price
guideline.
L
auren:
In the end, Jess came first, winning a day
at the kitchens in Collette’s with Russell Bateman,
along with a voucher for a meal at the restaurant.
Watford Girls was also very successful as Ellie Kendal,
11E earned second place, winning a voucher for a meal
at the restaurant at West Herts.
J
ess:
As I came first in the local competition I will
be going through to the next round in March. I am
very nervous as the next stage of the competition
will become much more challenging but I am looking
forward to the experience.
B
oth:
Overall, it was an amazing day and we were
very grateful for the opportunity and highly
recommend that when you are in Year 11 you also
enter the competition. Good luck!
Lauren Ryan and Jessica Perry 11A
16
17
What Has Been Happening ThisYear...?
We’ve had a busy and exciting time and we are only half way through!
FOOD & NUTRITION
YEAR 11 ROTARY YOUNG CHEF COMPETITION
YEAR 9 APPRENTICE CATERING CHALLENGE
