Super Sam cooks up a storm to reach national final of cooking contest

Talented young chef Sam Watkins (@Lborocollege) wowed judges with a riveting risotto to win the regional heats of the Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022.

The 18-year-old Loughborough College student, from Loughborough, will now join seven other chefs in the national final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 4th April 2022.

She conjured up a wild mushroom and chestnut risotto to defeat eight other regional finalists in her first-ever attempt in the competition.

Sam said: “It’s an amazing feeling to get to the final with this dish, especially with a vegetarian risotto. I love risotto and wild mushrooms so wanted to use them together, so producing the dish to where it is now has been a great experience. The judges’ feedback was really useful and I will be taking on board what they said ready to compete in the final.”

It is yet another incredible achievement for Sam who last year won a bronze medal in the culinary arts section of the World Skills Competition.

Darren Creed, Curriculum Manager for hospitality at Loughborough College said:

“Sam is a rising star in the kitchen and we are all extremely proud of what she’s achieved in reaching the final of this tough competition.

“The judges are tough and meticulous and it takes a lot to impress them which, of course, Sam did with her fantastic dish. We’ll be working with her to refine her recipe ready for the final in April.”

Find out more about the competition here: https://www.youngrisottochef.com/

Discover more about hospitality and catering courses at Loughborough College here: https://www.loucoll.ac.uk/courses/hospitality-and-catering