Over half of our pupils achieved Grade As at Higher level

Cooking up a storm

Cooking up a storm


A group of Kilgraston girls will be cooking up a feast for charity next week with the help of a top chef.

Upper Fourth pupils – Bethany Smith, Lexi Young, Emily Belford and Emily Dark – will prepare a mouth watering two course meal with Tim Dover, head chef and owner of The Roost restaurant in Kintillo.

The girls are set for a fantastic hands-on experience working alongside Tim, a classically trained Michelin chef and a 2012 finalist on Channel 5’s Kitchen Wars series.

Sixth formers Emma Garrett and Zara Collings will be waitresses for the evening, serving up scotch lamb followed by ginger crème brulee, poached rhubarb and lavender shortbread.

Kilgraston’s Home Economics teacher, Carole Clarke, said: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the girls to see what goes on behind the scenes in a top restaurant. It’s the fourth year we’ve had the chance to send girls to work in The Roost. One of girls who took part last year has now decided she’d like to become a chef and she worked in the restaurant last summer to get more experience.”

This year’s students were all finalists in Kilgraston’s Upper Fourth Chef Competition, judged by Tim. The winner of the contest was Bethany Smith whose stuffed chicken with haggis in a creamy whisky sauce most impressed the leading chef proprietor.

Bethany faced tough competition from runner up Lexi Young and Emily Belford and Emily Dark whose tasty dishes also scored top marks.

The final four were chosen from 10 finalists who had come through three class heats involving 37 girls.
Mrs Clarke revealed: “We had lots of fish, beef and lamb dishes. It all gets very competitive with some of the girls practising hard at home as well as school. It’s been a fantastic experience for the girls who’ve learnt how to work independently as well as researching local produce. They’ve also had to combine flavours and learn which ingredients go best together.”

On the night, Bethany and Lexi will help Tim prepare the meal with Emily Belford and Emily Dark helping with the setting-up and washing dishes.

Tickets cost £30 a head and proceeds will go to Dreamz4u, a local charity dedicated to granting the wishes of sick and disabled children.

Mrs Clarke added: “The charity was Bethany’s choice. In the last year, it has granted 500 wishes to local children. We’re delighted to support the charity and would appeal to parents, staff and friends of Kilgraston to get behind this worthy cause.”

Tickets are available from Carole Clarke via cclarke@kilgraston.com or 01738 812257

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