The Annual Algarve Rotary Schools Cookery competition was won this year by Escola EB2,3 Dr. António de Sousa Agostinho in Almancil. The competition organised by the Rotary Clubs of Almancil and Silves, drew competitors from Agrupamento de Escolas de Silves Sul, Escola Secundária, Dra. Laura Ayres, Quarteira and Escola EB2,3 Dr. António de Sousa Agostinho Almancil who between them entered 12 teams, producing eighteen three course lunches from which the ten judges chose two schools to cook in the final; a team from the school in Almancil and the other from the Quarteira School.
The finals took place at the five star Conrad Hotel in Quinta do Lago where Executive Chef Osvalde Silva, Sous Chef Vitor Viegas, and Pastry Chef Roberto Horta handed over their kitchen and provided a little advice to the two teams. "The judging gets harder each year" said joint organiser Alan Winn of the Rotary Club of Silves. "This year there was just a whisker between the teams but the lunch prepared and cooked by the Almancil school won us over in the end. We were given a starter of chicken roulade with salad, followed by baked salmon on a bed of potato and spinach and finally a dessert of caramel cream".
The teams from both schools were guests of honour at a gala dinner at the Conrad last Wednesday attended by more than 100 Rotarians, guests, parents and teachers. Each of the finalists was presented with a certificate and a personalised apron.
The cup for the winning school was presented by the Rotary incoming District Governor Abilio Lopes to Elisabete Sousa, who cooked the salmon main course. Peter Hinze of the Almancil International Rotary Club announced that in addition to the cup for the winning team, it was decided this year to award a special prize to the student who had produced the best meal of the competition overall. It was won by Miguel Reis of the Quarteira school who presented the judges with a dish of sea bass in tempura batter with a savoury risotto and béarnaise sauce and was said to be 'perfect' by guest judge Chef Didier Cazes, formerly of Restaurant Couleur France in Almancil.
The prize of a Jamie Oliver Cookbook (in Portuguese) was presented to Miguel by AIRC President Uschi Kuhn.
Miguel also received a signed photo donated by Jamie.
