TWO talented young chefs from the Cotswolds are on their way to the finals of the Rotary Young Chef competition after impressing judges at the district semi-finals.

Twelve-year-old Eleonore Gilbert, who attends The Cotswold School where the competition was held was runner-up to winner Zoe Scampton,15, from Kingshill School, Cirencester. Both now go forward to compete for the trophy at St Katherine’s School, in north Somerset, on February 27.

“The outstanding dish of the day was Zoe’s amazing Ile flottante (Floating island) with sugar spun caramel,” said judge Darren Brown of the Lucky Onion Group, while fellow judge Chris Kane from the King's Arms Hotel, Stow, added: “Eleonore’s starter of creamed goats cheese, poached pear, pickled beetroot, lightly toasted bruschetta and sweet balsamic was worthy of any restaurant menu.

Dishes produced included Thai crab cakes, salmon en croute, lamb tagine, chicken Kiev and Thai green curry.

Each contestant had just £15 to produce a three-course meal for two people.

"The standard we have seen here today is much higher than when I was a young trainee chef.”

The young chefs went to great lengths to prove their talent, making their own puff pastry and bread to accompany the dishes.

Organiser Bob Hadley thanked Matt Smith and Julie Franklin for hosting the event at The Cotswold School, as well as the judges who gave up their own time to oversea the competition.