DAN DARES: Daredevil hack fails in Ready, Steady, Cook challenge (From News Shopper)

DAN DARES: Daredevil hack fails in Ready, Steady, Cook challenge

11:10am Wednesday 30th June 2010 in Dan Dares

Daredevil reporter DAN KEEL enjoys nothing more than watching a tacky cooking TV show on a Saturday morning. But was he able to transfer those skills into his next dare?

FOLLOWING a couple of physical dares, it was time for some good old-fashioned competition - six cooks, ten ingredients and two hours to cook a delicious meal.

Myself and five 15-year-old Lewisham College cooking students were all handed identical ingredients and ordered to "think big" by chef lecturer Mark Dawkins.

As the words "Ready, Steady Cook" echoed in my ears I was consumed by a dizzy panic as I was greeted by no less than seven different coloured chopping boards - all with a specific purpose.

With threats of salmonella poisoning being thrown around the kitchen, my first instruction was to wash my chicken-smeered knife immediately.

After a hygiene crash course from the young chefs which included "it's best to stop looking up when you're chopping", I was ready to roll.

But after 30 minutes I still found myself chopping onions and carrots while my competition disappeared into the distance with their carefully crafted chicken breasts.

"Presentation, presentation, presentation - that's what it's all about" said Mark. And so I embarked upon something quite magnificent.

However my meticulously cut potatoes and carrots - sliced to identical length and width - were shot down.

"Your supposed to be cooking, not playing Jenga Dan", said Mark. But I was already committed to my 'Posh Chicken and Chips' and it was too late to turn back.

How anyone can work in a kitchen all day long is beyond me.

The heat from 12 burners and six ovens, combined with two hours of standing on your feet and constant pressure (all of this while wearing a hat and neck scarf) is enough to make you slump into the fridge.

But there was no time for self-pity - the finish line was in sight and I had only just lobbed my chicken, peppers and onions into the oven.

However, disaster was to strike. My onions and peppers turned black and stuck to the oven tray. Meanwhile an observant level three student had noticed my carrots were not peeled.

My "I was going for a rustic look" defence was instantly dismissed, but I ignored the set-back and frantically began chopping more peppers and onions while my slap-dash tomato sauce boiled over onto the immaculately clean hobs.

"Five minutes to go chefs" shouted Mark, but it was too late. My broccoli was over cooked, my sauce tasted like watered down ketchup and my chips were soggy.

I did score an eight of ten for presentation with one judge singling out my 'Jenga chips' for praise. Another liked the "rustic texture" of my unpeeled carrots!

However, the day belonged to Alfie Bagnall who scooped first prize with his delicious stuffed chicken.

I finished a respectable joint-fourth and walked away from the Lewisham Way campus in awe of these fantastically polite, patient and talented little chefs who seem destined for big things.

For more Dan Dares, visit newsshopper.co.uk/news/features/dandares

The ingredients:

Carrot

Pepper

Ginger

Potato

Thyme

Broccoli

Coriander

Half an onion

Half a courgette

Chicken breast