TOPPINGS and stuffed crusts littered the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted Airport as a group of Braintree children went head-to-head against a rival school in a pizza cook-off.
Four students from Tabor Academy visited the Radisson to take on pupils from St Mary's School in Bishop's Stortford in a duel of culinary skills – and came out triumphant.
The Tabor students were selected from 45 other academy entrants to the school's pizza design competition to decide who went into the final versus St Mary's. At the hotel the students were introduced to a chef from Filinis, who gave them a brief talk about what he was looking for in a winning pizza before they eagerly got to work.
Winner Amy Thomas, created a Moroccan-themed pizza, combining chicken with traditional ingredients, such as preserved lemon, ras-el-hanout and apricots. Karen Ditzel, head of design and senior Brunel tutor, said: "Amy was over the moon, the subtle amounts of cinnamon and cumin she used to make the judges mouths water and ultimately crown her as the Radisson Blu Pizza Challenge winner, were amazing. Amy also won the school's Year 7 heat of Masterchef in the last few weeks too, so I believe we may have a new culinary champion here at Tabor."
Her triumphant creation will now feature on the Radisson's very own menu.
Miss Ditzel said: "I was truly impressed by the team spirit of my students as they all congratulated her and complimented her on her winning dish."
Other entrants included Molly Barltrop, who created the 'Chocolate Mayhem' dessert pizza containing jelly beans and marshmallows, with a peanut butter stuffed crust.
"Kian Culham created the 'Hot Boy Challenge', using every known hot chilli under the sun – it certainly made for an interesting tasting during the judging," added Miss Ditzel.
Chloe Hiskey made the 'Ooh La La', pizza with a combination of pepperoni, brie, chives and basil.
"It was an amazing treat for the taste buds, she had the judges in raptures," added Miss Ditzel.
