It may have been a far cry from cooking on an open camp fire, but scouts have shown that they have the potential to be top chefs.
Groups of youngsters from across Lowestoft demonstrated their culinary talents with a range of creative menus during an annual cooking contest.
They were taking part in the Lowestoft and District Scouts cookery competition on Sunday at the Pakefield Scout headquarters in Kendal Road.
With the contest taking place just days before Shrove Tuesday you might expect that the menu will include pancakes – and the youngsters demonstrating their skills didn't disappoint, as shaped American pancakes served with a milk chocolate dip and others served with a cooked banana foster sauce both appeared on the menus at the contest alongside some other really creative dishes.
With six teams battling it out to impress the judges by preparing a three-course meal, the teams of two or three scouts were faced with the task of cooking a balanced meal using just a two-ring gas burner and with ingredients costing not more than £5 per head. Two of the three courses had to be cooked and served hot with all dishes prepared from raw ingredients during the competition.
The meals were judged by a local campsite warden together with Rosie and Annabelle from the Green Jack company, who awarded marks not only for good cooking but also for presentation, time keeping, organisation, the originality and imagination of the menu and good hygiene.
The teams had just two hours to complete the meal and they were expected to eat their own food as well as to clean and wash-up afterwards.
Organiser Rob Harbord said: 'As well as teaching the youngsters the need to be organised and work as a team, they also learnt about food hygiene and how to handle meat and fish safely. More marks were allocated to cleanliness throughout the task and clearing up was also assessed.'
Assistant district commissioner for scouts, Mark Green, said: 'The judges sampled all of the food and were really impressed with the standard of cooking. The chefs had all worked really hard and made some really tasty meals whilst also finishing on time.'
The judges selected 1st Pakefield as winners of the competition with 2nd Carlton Colville and 1st Oulton Broad runners-up.
THE TEMPTING MENUS
4th Lowestoft – Lentil and Bacon soup, Chicken Fajitas, Pancakes with Banana Foster Sauce.
14th Lowestoft – Bruschetta, Paprika Chicken Pittas, Sticky Fruit Kebabs.
1st Blundeston – Chicken Noodle Soup, Peri-peri Chicken, Tropical Fruit Salad.
2nd Carlton Colville – Mexican Chicken & Caesar Salad, American Stack Burger, Lemon French Toast & Poached Pears.
1st Oulton Broad – Melon Balls & Palma Ham, Salmon Fillets and Couscous, Shaped American Pancakes with chocolate dip.
1st Pakefield – Chicken Satay Skewer, Peppa Pig sausages in onion gravy, Oreo cheesecake.
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