Daramalan College students shine

Daramalan College year 11 students Ben McDonald and Jemima Edwards have won the ACT Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge held by the Australian Culinary Federation.

Thirty-six students competed. They had an hour to cook a main course for two people, based on a whole chicken that they had to break down before cooking.

Inspired by McDonald’s Italian heritage, the pair cooked chicken maryland with prosciutto; arancini with pepperoncini; and a warm broadbean and eggplant salad, with olive tapenade. Their win qualifies them for the International Secondary Schools Challenge in Taki Cho, Japan, in September.

Federation NSW and ACT president Neil Abrahams says such was the high standard that the meals produced would not have been out of place in many Canberra restaurants.