A BUDDING young chef is hoping to fry the competition later this month in the national finals of a youth cooking competition.
Rubie Le Masurier, from Jersey College for Girls, said she entered the Rotary Young Chef competition as practice for her GCSE practical exam, and soon won the local heat of the contest with her two-course menu of French bistro-inspired pan-fried sea bream and chocolate fondant.
Having reached the district final in Waterlooville last month, where she secured third place even after battling travel disruption and a late start, Rubie then came out on top against eight other students in the penultimate round, meaning she will become the second student ever to represent Jersey in the competition’s national final.
Supported by the food and nutrition staff at JCG along the way, as well as local chefs and the local Rotary Club, Rubie described reaching the last stage of the nationwide contest as “phenomenal”, and that her practice for the competition had been “exhausting but entirely worth it”.
“This journey has been incredible,” Rubie said. “I’ve loved every moment and I’m beyond grateful for the support and experience I’ve gained.”
With the support of Nik Boyle, head chef of Quayside Restaurant and one of the local round judges, Rubie has refined her skills and made her dishes more complex through each round. Robert Marshall, head of the Rotary Young Chef competition in Jersey, also travelled with Rubie to every round.
Rubie was influenced by her mum’s love for cooking and growing up with a fusion of Kenyan and British cuisine, and added that cooking had always been a passion of hers but she “never imagined doing something like this”.
“I’m so thankful for all the encouragement I’ve received throughout this competition,” she added.
Rubie continued: “My advice to anyone who loves cooking and wants to take on something like this is simple: go for it. If I had doubted myself and didn’t compete in the first round, I would have missed out on this life-changing experience.”
On 29 March, Rubie will be one of the final six students taking part in the 2025 finals of the competition in Romford following over 4,000 entries.
