Young Cook of the Year Competition

The main objective of the Dairy Council’s Young Cook of the Year competition is to encourage students to combine an understanding of good nutrition and value for money with creative flair and the ability to produce tasty and attractive food. It aims to promote cooking skills among young people alongside highlighting the importance of balanced, nutritious food, including dairy products, for a healthy lifestyle. The competition also intends to increase student’s awareness of locally produced food.

The competition is open to students throughout Northern Ireland at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 levels, and in Special Education. The Young Cook of the Year competition has been designed to support the current Home Economics curriculum, and is supported by the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland (CCEA).

Winners are chosen from each Education Authority (EA) region and overall category winners are then invited to participate in the Finals. At this stage all the finalists will prepare their menu, and the Young Cook of the Year is announced. 

Prizes

• Each pupil selected as a category winner at EA regional level receives a voucher for £50
• The category winner’s school at EA region level receives £100
• At the Finals, each pupil selected as an overall category winner receives a voucher for £50
• The school of each overall category winner at the Finals receives £250
• The winner of the Young Cook of the Year receives a voucher for £100
• The school of the winner of the Young Cook of the Year receives £500