A Kingsbury student has been crowned the winner of a regional cooking competition.

Olivia Taiwo, 14, from Kingsbury High School, in Princes Avenue, won the North West London area final of the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland Young Chef awards.

The competition saw the schoolgirl battle against eight other school heat winners from five schools in Harrow, Brent and Barnet.

Each competitor had a budget of £10 and 75 minutes to create their two-course meal.

The meals were then judged by a panel including Luthere Maitland a lecturer in hospitality and catering at the College of North West London, Tony Arens from the Rotary Club of Harrow, and chef Kim Chapman.

Eventually, Olivia’s mushroom and prosciutto ravioli in a sage butter sauce with asparagus and herb jus followed by a pear and butterscotch frangipane tart with butterscotch sauce, clotted cream and caramel shard, was voted winner.

The young chef said: “I’m very happy and excited.  It has taken a month to prepare my menu. 

“My ambition is one day to become a pastry chef.  I would recommend cookery to others.”

Mr Luther Maitland, commended Olivia for the skill she showed in the preparation of her fresh pasta and her professional attitude. 

He said: “She had good use of flavours and her dish was of restaurant quality.”

The runner up in the North West London area final was 14-year-old Ciaran Black from St James’ Catholic High School in Colindale.

Olivia and Ciaran will both go on to represent their schools in the London final which will be held at Westminster Kingsway on Saturday.