Budding Jamies and Delias put their culinary skills to the test in a cook-off to find the best young chef in Kent.

Eight students, aged 11 to 16, from across the county took part in the live final of the Produced in Kent event on Friday, held at Thanet College.

They were given two hours to cook and serve their original main course recipes, featuring seasonal Kentish produce.

The junior section was won by Alice Browning, from Chatham, for her Romney Marsh lamb with chocolate peppermint sauce.

The senior section was James Dye, from Swanscombe, who also cooked a rack of lamb.

Among the junior runners up was Ellie Garety-Jones, from Swadelands School in Lenham, who cooked rack of lamb with roast seasonal vegetables and herby potato cake.

Richard Phillips – who has three successful restaurants in Kent and is a regular chef on TV’s Ready Steady Cook – was joined on the judging panel by Roger Phillips, head of catering and hospitality at Thanet College, and Julie Monkman, manager of Produced in Kent.

“The standard of cooking and presentation was absolutely fantastic,” said Richard.

“The competitors have proved today that they are well ahead of their years in terms of what they have produced and achieved here. All the entrants chose a superb quality of local ingredients, and choosing the best quality, local ingredients is absolutely the key to creating an outstanding dish.”

He invited all the finalists to spend an afternoon in his restaurant kitchens as a bonus prize at the end of the event.

All the parents received a bottle of Chapel Down sparkling wine and the two winners walked away with a Produced in Kent hamper each.

The event was hosted by Art Attack TV show host Neil Buchanan and coverage was broadcast throughout the day on kmfm. It was sponsored by food supplier kff.

The event is expected to run again next year. Details will be announced at the beginning of the autumn term in 2010. The KM Group and kff will also support the 2010 event.

All the finalists recipes can be seen or downloaded from the Produced in Kent website.