VIDEO: Scout fun at cooking competition in Newport

The annual cooking competition, which is taking place in Rogerstone’s Scout Hut today, helps the youngsters get their chef badge.

Lee Philpot, assistant district commissioner for Newport Scouts, said: “Each year, we invite all the scouts in Newport to come along.

“They are all given a theme, which this year is continents – we have teams cooking Asian food and others American food, for example.

“They are cooking a starter, a main course and a dessert and they are judged on presentation and how they worked as a team, amongst others.”

Mr Philpot said the scouts have two hours for cooking, with the winners being announced today at around 12.30pm.

He said they have 13 teams taking part, with each of them having up to four scouts.

“We have a trophy and a secret price,” he said. “Cooking competitions help them develop a great life skill as well as team work.

“By participating today, they qualify for their chef badge.”

Ben Langdon, 13, who goes to First Llanmartin Scout Group, said that the competition is going “very well”.

“It is good to see everybody cooking – having some scouts fun,” said the student at Caerleon Comprehensive. “We are cooking chicken and sweetcorn soup as a starter, sweet and sour chicken curry as a main and banana frittatas for dessert.”

Connor O’Toole, 10, who goes to 28th Newport Scouts, said that his team has been cooking guacamole, burgers and pancakes.

The student at High Cross Primary School said: “It is the first time I have taken part in the competition as we only moved to Newport last year.

“I am really enjoying it, I like cooking but I don’t cook at home often.”

Isabella Watkins, a student at Caerleon Comprehensive who also goes to 28th Newport Scouts, said that her team are cooking chicken noodle soup, chicken biryani and mango lassi.

“It is good because we have finished on time,” said the thirteen-year-old. “We are having a really good time together because there is music and we are dancing.

“I think we have a good chance of being in the top three.”

Rogerstone Cllr Chris Evans, who was at the event, said: “When people criticise our kids, I say look at these youngster and be proud “This to me is what being a councillor is all about, getting out there into our communities, putting petty politics to one side and getting involved.”