Winner of the Antrim Rural Heat

Angus Gregg

Cooking first started for me when I was about 10 years old and I was very bored and was craving chocolate cake so I made one and from that a passion spawned. I adore cooking any kind of braised meat as it provides such a rich flavour and can be so tender.

Representing: Dalriada School, Ballymena

Mentor: Dave Gilmore

Winner of the Down Heat

Alex Scates

I started cooking with my grandma at the age of three. My favourite memory of us is blackberry picking and making homemade jam. I love to cook risotto, my mum passed down the recipe to me from my iIalian grandmother (Nonna). My mum used to make it all of the time when I was little and it has become a comfort food for me.

Representing: St Columbanus College, Bangor

Mentor: Cathy Adamson

Winner of the Wild Card place

Beth Morrow

I have have always loved to cook for as long as I can remember, my specialty used to be top hats and now it’s hand made gnocchi and lemon panna cotta. However, it wasn’t until lockdown (and the closing of takeaways) when I first properly started cooking. My mum and I made ‘fakeaways’ most weeks, things like honey chilli chicken, egg fried rice and sweet and sour were always a hit. When I heard about the competition from my Food and Nutrition teacher, I knew it was something I’d love to try. Who knew I’d make it to the semi-final?

Representing: Banbridge Academy

Mentor: Stevie Higginson

Winner of Derry Heat

Zuzanna Urbanek 

Cooking has always been a part of my life. It’s a huge part of my culture and family so when I got the opportunity to enter the competition it was a no brainer. I love making and eating Polish Christmas  dishes. When making these dishes the whole family is involved and that’s what makes them so special.

Representing: Loreto College, Coleraine

Mentor: Graham Henry

Matilda Higginson

Lubo Mulkerns