School Chef of the Year in the spotlight

A culinary journey to Venice for the LACA School Chef of the Year winner and judges

Last month, the winner and judges of the LACA School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) competition embarked on a 72-hour trip to Venice, courtesy of Unox. This included our senior culinary lead, Louise Wagstaffe, who heads up the judging panel for the competition, with Bisto being the headline sponsor. The trip combined visiting the local sights of Padua, enjoying amazing food, and learning about cutting-edge kitchen technology.

The adventure began with a water taxi ride through the canals of Venice, capturing stunning views of the city.

After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, the group returned to Padua by water taxi and checked into their hotel. That evening, there was time for more dining and the opportunity to explore the city’s vibrant nightlife.

On day two, the group visited the Unox headquarters in Padua. The commitment to innovation was evident during a tour of their facilities, as the SCOTY group learned about the company’s research and development team of 60 experts.

The highlight of this tour was seeing the groundbreaking ‘Artificial Eye’ technology in action, where the oven automatically adjusts cooking programs based on the items inside. Everyone was also impressed by the Speed Pro Oven, which cooked a whole chicken in just seven minutes, and the Evereo “hot fridge,” which can safely hold food for up to 72 hours.

The final day of the trip gave the group the chance to visit Padua’s food markets, savouring the local flavours. This memorable trip provided so much culinary inspiration and insight for the competitions’ winner, Jennifer Brown. It showcases the incredible opportunities that being part of this competition can bring for school chefs.

Louise Wagstaffe, senior culinary lead, Premier Foods Foodservice said: “It’s an honour to lead the judging for LACA School Chef of the Year and each year, I look forward to the heats and final. There’s lots of talent in education catering and school chefs play a key role in the health of the next generation, so it’s fantastic to shine a spotlight on this sector. Thank you to Unox for arranging an amazing learning experience for us all.”

There’s still time for you to be part of SCOTY in 2025. Register your interest in the event here.