TASHA Watts has won the first regional heat of the 2022 SCOTY competition and becomes the first of this year’s finalists.

Tasha from Crispin Academy, Street, Somerset created a spicy, vegetarian curry wrap for her ‘Grab & Go’ item.

This was followed with a Thai style Quorn fish cake with a pineapple fried rice and a sweet chili sauce.

To complete the tasks, Tasha delivered a banana and butterscotch Banoffee style pudding. Tasha is pictured above with LACA regional chair, Lynda Mitchell.

The first heat was held at Weston College, Weston Super Mare.

Somerset County Gazette:

Further heats will be held around the country with the final rounds being held at the LACA Main Event in July.

In a new twist for 2022, competitors will be tasked with creating a grab & go savoury snack in addition to a delicious and imaginative main meal, using at least one Quorn product in both the new grab & go item and main course and one Bisto product from a list provided in either the snack or the main course, alongside a 50 per cent fruit-based dessert that should reflect school standards, using one Premier Foods product from a list provided.

The national final will be held at the LACA Main Event on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole with the overall winner announced on the evening of Thursday July 7.

Regional final winners will each receive a £100 cash prize. At the national final, the 2022 national winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2022 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events.

The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.