Vale of Alford JAC and Forss Young Farmers Cut the Mustard and Qualify for National Finals

Grampian Winners Ellen Glennie and Sally Glennie From Vale of Alford Pictured in the centre, with Judge Karen Grant on the left and Joscelyn Ramage on the right.

Highland Winners Abby Mill and Rhianna Mackay Of Forss Young Farmers pictured with the judge Ingrid Groat.

SAYFC North Region held both Grampian and Highland eliminations of the ‘Ready Steady Country Cooks’ competition on Sunday 14^th May.

The Grampian competition was held at The Garioch Community Kitchen, Wyness Hall, Inverurie, kindly sponsored by Hattoncrook Farm Deli, with Eight teams from the area competing for a place in the finals at the Royal Highland Show. Teams were given one hour to cook dishes using a bag of unknown ingredients including quality scotch beef mince without the aid of recipe books in a ‘ready steady cook’ style competition. Teams were judged on all aspects of their cookery skills, including hygiene, technical skill and team work as well as the balance, taste and appearance of the dishes prepared.

Winners Ellen Glennie and Sally Glennie from Vale of Alford proved the winning cooks on the day and will go on to represent the Grampian area at show next month.

In second place were Eilidh Davidson and Kirsten Craig of Strichen JAC. Also competing were Mid Deeside, Turriff and Garioch.

On the same day in Stromness Academy, the Highland area competition was held with nine teams competing for their place in the final. Once again teams were given a surprise bag of ingredients using quality steak mince, kindly provided by E Flett Butchers, Stromness.

Winners, Abby Mill and Rhianna Mackay from Forss YF team, cooked up a storm winning first place and will go on to represent the Highland area at the Highland Show next month.

In second place were Rachel Isbister and Jessica Rendall of Sandwick YF and in third place was Alix Harvey and Grace Harcus of East Mainland.