AN ASPIRING chef has won the March qualifying round of a national cooking competition after dazzling judges with his skills in the kitchen.

Robert Stone will be in with a chance of being crowned the Rotary Club’s Young Chef of the Year after he won the preliminary competition hosted by Neale-Wade Community College on Saturday.

The teenager wowed judges with Chicken Supreme followed by Raspberry Roulade and Mango Coulis, to beat runner-up Jack Barlow by half a mark. Other competitors from the March school included Michael Penn, Melissa Dwyer, Jordan Simon and Summer Clarke.

Judges Andrew Pugh, Mayor of March, and Richard Wedgbury had the pleasure of tasting dishes including Tomato and Pepper Chicken, Lamb Chops with Duchess Potatoes, Zesty Lemon and Lime Cheesecake and Peppermint Meringue. Points were awarded on preparation, presentation and palatability.

The next round of the Rotary Club’s Young Chef of the Year will be held in Bury St Edmunds in two weeks time with the final set to take place in April.

The overall winner will be presented with a cup, �250, a day’s experience at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant in London and a trip to see the Olive Harvest in Tuscany with Filippo Berio Olive Oil.