A talented student from Queen's College, Taunton, has won a prestigious cooking contest after going head-to-head with students from across the South West.

Ksusha competed in the regional heat of the Rotary Young Chef Competition held at her own school.

The event saw nine young cooks from various parts of the region showing off their skills, creativity, and culinary knowledge.

Rotary Young Chef Competition

Despite the strong competition, Ksusha managed to come out on top, impressing the judges with her 'commitment, professionalism, and culinary skill' in creating the best two-course healthy meal for two people.

The challenge was to prepare and serve this meal within two hours on a budget of £18.

The young chefs were judged on a wide range of professional criteria, including costing and planning, healthy menu design, knife and equipment skills, time management, organisation and hygiene, cooking techniques, presentation and taste.

How it all adds up

The competition was judged by a panel of respected figures in the culinary world, including Peter Gorton.

Mr Gorton is a Devon-based chef who gained a Michelin star while running the Horn of Plenty, as well as being named MasterChef of Great Britain.

Also, on the judging panel was Munopa Nhete, a former student of Queen's College who is now well-known within the UK food scene.

MasterChef of Great Britain

Ms Nhete was a BBC MasterChef 2025 semi-finalist and has previously been named Somerset Junior Chef of the Year, South West Junior Chef of the Year, and South West Home Cook of the Year.

Hosting the Rotary Young Chef Competition allowed pupils at Queen's College to interact with professional chefs and get a real feel for the standards expected in the culinary world.

Following her victory in the regional round, Ksusha will move on to compete in the next stage of the competition this Sunday.

South West Junior Chef

In this round, she will face off against young chefs from Wales and the South of England.

The winner of this heat will then go on to the national championship in Manchester.

Despite the strong competition, Ksusha managed to come out on top, impressing the judges with her 'commitment, professionalism, and culinary skill' in creating the best two-course healthy meal for two people.

Reading the wider picture

Location, rent and staffing shape restaurant stories long before the food does, and the operators who last are the ones who plan around all three.

What to remember

  • A talented student from Queen's College, Taunton, has won a prestigious cooking contest after going head-to-head with students from across the South West
  • The challenge was to prepare and serve this meal within two hours on a budget of £18
  • The young chefs were judged on a wide range of professional criteria, including costing and planning, healthy menu design, knife and equipment skills, time management, organisation and hygiene, cooking techniques, presentation and taste
  • The competition was judged by a panel of respected figures in the culinary world, including Peter Gorton
  • Mr Gorton is a Devon-based chef who gained a Michelin star while running the Horn of Plenty, as well as being named MasterChef of Great Britain

Questions worth asking

What should you know about Rotary Young Chef Competition?

Ksusha competed in the regional heat of the Rotary Young Chef Competition held at her own school.

What happens next?

Hosting the Rotary Young Chef Competition allowed pupils at Queen's College to interact with professional chefs and get a real feel for the standards expected in the culinary world.

All told

Every change in the dining room eventually reaches the same test, which is whether people keep choosing it once the novelty has worn off.