WHEN you think of school meals you may think of concrete chips, lumpy custard and soggy semolina.

But dinner ladies in Bolton were aiming to change all that when they entered the School Chef of the Year competition.

Five cooks took part in a cook-off on Monday, in the Bolton heat of the Local Authority Catering Association School Chef of the Year at the kitchens of Bolton Community College.

Each had just £1.10 and 90-minutes to create a main course and dessert for an 11-year-old child.

The winner was Ann Baldwin, a chef of nine years who works at Mount St Joseph High School in Farnworth.

She put together pork spring rolls with rainbow rice, followed by strawberry ripple cheesecake. She said: “I love being a school chef but this competition was great because I got the chance to show what I can really do.

“I was delighted to win the Bolton heat and now, hopefully, I can do well in the regional heat.”

Wendy Bisset, chef lecturer at Bolton Community College and competition judge, added: “I was overwhelmed by the amount of flair and imagination the participants displayed in the kitchens. It provides a very promising outlook for the future of school meal provision across the borough. The college was thrilled to host this year’s competition."

Also taking part in the contest were Rebecca Dutson, Thornleigh Salesian College; Debra Pimbley, St Catherine’s Primary School; Helen Barnes, Westhoughton High School; and Jean-Paul Gauthier, Ladybridge High School. Among the Judges were Natasha Stuchbury and Ross Harrison, both aged 10, and pupils at St Catherine’s Primary School, Horwich.

Bolton Council’s executive member for environmental services, Cllr Nick Peel, said: “This was a tough challenge for school chefs but it was a chance to show just how talented they are at cooking up high quality, healthy meals on a budget. I admire them all for being so willing to put their skills to the test.”

Ann will compete in the regional heat in the New Year.