Taste of success for young chef

Nicola is one of six finalists from across the country

A teenager from the Isle of Man is hoping to taste success at the final of a prestigious cookery competition.

Nicola Logan, 13, from Castle Rushen High School, is in the final of the CookIt! contest staged by the Guild of Food Writers.

Cooks aged 10 to 14 were asked to design a healthy family meal.

Nicola is one of six finalists who will prepare their recipes at the BBC Good Food test kitchens in front of a panel of judges, including top chefs.

The main course and pudding must serve between two and four people, cost a maximum of £20 to make and take no longer than one hour and 30 minutes to prepare.

Nicola, of Port Erin, will be cooking up a main course of sea bream with Thai green tapenade and coconut basmati rice, followed by cinnamon and raisin French toast with caramelised clove apples and orange creme fraiche.

She said: "When I got my first children's cookbook I discovered I really liked it. I moved on to adult cookbooks, then started writing my own recipes and picking up tips on food."

The winner will get the chance to learn Italian cookery from one of the UK's leading Italian chefs, Giorgio Locatelli, before cooking at his acclaimed London restaurant Locanda Locatelli.