AWARD WINNER. Budding chef Kian Johnson was a regional finalist in the Young Rotary Chef competition. Here he is pictured in the GCSE catering kitchen at Oak Academy in Bournemouth.
Bournemouth teenager Kian Johnson is on course to be a brilliant chef after serving up not one but three award winning meals.
The youngster from the Oak Academy came runner up in both the local and district heats of the national Young Rotary Chef competition and scored highly in the regional finals.
In the south west final, which was held at the Devon University of Catering, Kian was just pipped to the post of making it all way to the national finals when he lost out by just one point.
The 13 year-old said: “It was an amazing experience and it has made me more determined to become a chef one day.”
“I was up against a lot of talented cooks and many of them were a lot older than me, so I am really proud of how well I have done.”
For the south west final Kian created a starter of spinach and quails egg ravioli. His main was a roulade of duck a l ’orange, filled with crushed walnuts and parsnip puree, served with coriander infused cauliflower rice, cherry tomatoes and asparagus tips.
Kian polished off his meal with a mouth-watering dessert he called ‘a chocoholic’s dream.’
And it is puddings that really get Kian’s taste buds going.
He regularly creates amazing cakes and pastries, including taking baking requests from his teachers, family and friends.
After completing his GCSEs Kian has his eyes set on catering college where he would like to train as a pastry chef – with his sights firmly on reaching the top.
AWARD WINNER. Budding chef Kian Johnson was a regional finalist in the Young Rotary Chef competition. Here he is pictured in the GCSE catering kitchen at Oak Academy in Bournemouth.
“I want to go all the way, I want to be a Michelin starred chef,” Kian said.
This determination comes as no surprise to all the teaching staff at Oak Academy.
Executive principal, Gill Blanshard, said: “Kian’s cooking, and particularly his cake making, has become quite legendary in the school.
“We are very proud of how well he acquitted himself in the competition, in which he was up against competitors three and four years older than him.
“He’s well on course to achieve his dream of being a chef and I for one look forward to visiting his restaurant in a few years’ time.”
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