Idol moments

EVERY year well, for the past two since the show was revived I've really enjoyed watching Masterchef on telly.

It's the one where judges John Torode and Greg Wallace stroll meanly round a kitchen as hopeful chefs sweat their way through a series of cooking challenges, picking holes in the way the contestants slice their onions and muttering darkly things like: "I like the idea of that main course, Greg, but he's cutting it way too fine with that pigeon breast. It'll never cook in time, it just won't."

So I became very excited when I was asked to be a judge for the North Yorkshire round of Chef Idol at York College.

Although I work as a news reporter at The Press, I sometimes write restaurant reviews too (the trick is to mention how much you like eating out when the reviewing editor is in earshot) and I'm an enthusiastic, if unskilled, home cook.

So off I trotted to York College to meet the five wannabe Chef Idols all teenagers in a contest organised by Deliciouslyorkshire, the campaigning brand for the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber.

Joining me on the judging panel was Karen Carlyle, regional food group executive director, Anna Wallace, BBC Radio York's breakfast presenter, and Kirk Vincent, owner of Henshelwood's Delicatessen in York and, rather dauntingly, an ex-boss of Jamie Oliver.

Contestants Amanda, Dale, Andrea, Matthew and Nick had to produce a plate of food in fewer than 40 minutes, using ingredients costing not more than £8. It had to be tasty that went without saying seasonal and regional.

The clock started, the cooks began chopping, stirring and slicing, and we judges started to tour the room.

We needed to interview the contestants as they prepared their dishes, to see how they measured up in different criteria: how original was their chosen dish?; how hygienic were their cooking methods?; did they have an engaging personality?

Personally, I find it very hard to talk and cook at the same time but the winner of this contest would have to cook live on stage at this weekend's Ryedale Festival of Food and Drink, so we needed to choose someone who knew how to communicate what they were doing.

Nick Leadill, 19, from Malton, was busy putting together his chosen dish: mini Yorkshire puddings (nice and local) with rare beef, Anna potato, baby vegetables and asparagus hollandaise.

So which chef inspired him the most? "Gary Rhodes," came the prompt answer. "Everything he does seems to be perfect. I want to learn as much as I can from people in the business and then, hopefully, get it together and start on my own."

Nearby, Dale Wild, 18, was busy preparing the intriguing-sounding Wakefield rhubarb and red port sauce for his roast duck breast, to be accompanied by potato rosti and asparagus, while next to him Amanda Sanderson, also 18, was preparing her rack of Nidderdale lamb with Flaxton baby carrots, potato rosti and red wine reduction and mint oil.

"I like getting the ingredients and seeing the end product seeing a recipe and doing your own thing with it," she said.

Andrea Hall, 18, who was making a roasted breast of chicken with Wensleydale cheese, game chips and a rich red wine glaze, said she wanted to take her cooking skills on to a cruise ship "to see the world!" while 19-year-old Matthew Bird, from Pocklington, busy preparing his cod dish, hoped to open a gastro pub.

It was the moment of truth. Tasting time. Five plates of food arranged for our perusal. It didn't take us long to decide the winner Matthew's Whitby cod with fennel, potato mousseline (creamy mash) and asparagus was simple, elegant and fresh. Amanda's rack of lamb was an impressive second her red wine reduction with mint oil beautifully rich and tasty.

Matthew will be cooking on stage with TV chef James Martin at the Ryedale Festival Of Food And Drink at Castle Howard on Monday at 12.30pm.

And he will also take part in a cook-off with the other finalists from the Chef Idol Yorkshire heats at York College on July 3. The overall winner will be revealed at the Great Yorkshire Show from July 11-13 when they will be crowned Chef Idol and show off their flair in a cookery demo.

Best of luck, Matthew.