Cornish student wins national pastry chef award

A student from Cornwall has been named the winner of the Student Pastry Chef of the Year competition.

Hosted by The Chefs' Forum, the event celebrated the very best in emerging pastry talent, organisers said.

The winner, 16-year-old Phoebe Mortimer, is currently doing a Level Two professional cookery course at Cornwall College in Camborne.

She said her tutors at the college had been "so supportive" and she had "so many opportunities" since receiving the award.

Alongside the award, Phoebe was presented with a hand-painted Wedgwood plate and a variety of prizes.

They included a culinary trip to France to visit Andros Purée HQ, and a second opportunity to visit Paris for a day's training at PatisFrance HQ with one of their development chefs.

Ms Mortimer said: "Patisserie is something I've always had a really, really big passion for.

"I think, back in January, as soon as I saw that there was a student pastry chef competition, I was... instantly: 'I need to apply for this. I need to go for this.'"

The teenager said she was also "in shock" about winning the award.

She added: "This experience, this opportunity is incredible.

"As soon as I won, there was people, like, whisking me off to take photographs of me, shaking my hand here, shaking my hand there.

"I just felt like a little mini celebrity, it was incredible."

The student said her tutors at the college had been "incredible".

She said: "I've made my dishes for them, they've critiqued them, they were incredible they really helped me - giving me all the ingredients I need, letting me use their kitchens, letting me go in on Fridays when I don't actually have college, to practise.

"Honestly, they were so, so supportive."

Joint head judge and renowned international pastry consultant Martin Chiffers praised the calibre of entries and expressed pride in Cornwall College's success.

He said: "This was a fantastic event, and I'm very proud that Cornwall College did so well, with two students on the podium.

"I started there in 1984 and had a fantastic start to my career. All of the students were extremely professional, dedicated, and passionate about their work, which was great to see."

The event was held at West London College's Taste Restaurant and training kitchens.

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