Young chef Maia is a rising star

AN aspiring baker managed to rise to the occasion to see off the competition at a cookery competition judged by some of the region’s top chefs.

King’s School student Maia English was named South West Junior Chef of the Year’after she wowed judges with her mouth-watering dish of caramelised Brixham scallops with celeriac purée and crispy pancetta.

Fifteen-year-old Maia beat three other finalists to the top prize, and as part of her reward she will have the chance to work alongside a Michelin-starred chef at one of the country’s top restaurants.

She said: “I’m really pleased to have won and it’ll be a great experience to work with such a respected chef.”

Maia plans to hone her skills by getting some restaurant experience after finishing her GCSEs and hopes to one day own a patisserie of her own.

“I did a lot of practice for the competition at home,” she said. “I’ve been baking since I was 10 and that’s how I got in to cooking - I definitely want to go in to catering as a career.”

Head of catering at The King’s School Deborah Capon said she was very proud of Maia’s commitment to the competition.

She added: “Michael Caines said the standard was incredible and he wished Maia well for the future.”