f you have never encouraged the little ones to wield a knife in the kitchen to assist you in preparing a bowl of fresh salad, there is nothing wrong in giving it a try. Perhaps, they might come up with something creative.
When the stage was set for the little chefs to showcase their culinary skills on Friday evening, they took the viewers by surprise, dishing out a variety of starters, tikkis , rolls and welcome drinks—all in 45 minutes.
The grand finale of the Little Master Chef competition, presented jointly by Hotel Novotel and Oakridge International School, provided the right platform for aspiring chefs, studying Classes V to XII to come up with their own preparations under the able supervision of a team of master chefs.
What made the podium stand out is how well the contestants understood the dynamics of cooking and learnt new techniques along with the recipes. “A certain degree of dexterity is required to cut vegetables and do the stuffing for rolls. But yes, innovation is the key. Constant experimentation is what is required to give that ‘waw’ effect to your dish,” said Gayathri, a Class VIII student at the grand finale.
Before stepping into the final round, the students have gone through a three-month-long hands-on training in the culinary art at the hotel. “Most students expressed their dream to become chefs in our career counselling session. That’s how the Little Master Chef contest came into existence. A total of 30 students from various schools took part in the workshop. In the end, 11 contestants were shortlisted,” said Manija Subrahmanyam, Principal of the Oakridge International School.
While a team of students felt that the workshop helped them enhance their interpersonal skills and leadership qualities, some shared that it aided in overcoming challenges. “For instance, the process of baking is very crucial. If you miss out on anything, the outcome turns out to be a total flop,” said Leeladhar Malla, a contestant.
Winners
A total of eleven contestants were divided into four teams and were assisted by the master chefs of the hotel. The top team, headed by chefs Utpal and Anil, that won the title ‘Little Master Chef’ include Rashmika, Tanvi Mittal and Leeladhar Malla.
Most students expressed their dream to become chefs in our career counselling session
—Manija Subrahmanyam, OIS principal
