Felsted School chef Brenden Eades has been named East of England School Chef of the Year thanks to an Asian-inspired dish of mung beans and lentils.
Brenden competed against two other school chefs in the regional finals, run by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA).
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He impressed the judges with his high-protein school lunch of panchrangi dal, with a bhaji rosti and crisp chapati wrap, followed by a traditional gooseberry fool with a citrus jelly top and cherry bottom.
Brenden will go on to compete in the national final in July.
He said: "The key to school food is to make sure you are not only providing a healthy, balanced meal, but also that you are complimenting the education the pupils are receiving in the classroom."
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