A TALENTED Stourbridge student has tasted success after winning the first round of the Rotary ‘Young Chef’ competition.

Emily Barron, a pupil at Redhill School, beat off stiff competition from students from Kinver High School, Pedmore Technology College and Ridgewood High School in the Stourbridge heat.

Her winning menu included a main meal of spicy fried chicken served with fragrant rice and a hot vegetable salad. She created a pukkatuck mango dessert served with nankhatai Indian nut cookie.

Judges praised Emily for being well organised on the day, working well to the time constraints and paying careful attention to the overall finish of her meal.

Chris McGrail, headteacher at Redhill, which hosted the event, said: “The standard of this competition was extremely high and we are very proud of what Emily has achieved with her cooking.”

Emily will now go on to compete in the district heat of the competition in March.