Stromness Primary bairns say shortlisted school cook Karen is already a winner in their eyes – or should that be bellies!

Stromness Primary school cook Karen Bevan is already a winner in the eyes and bellies of some the bairns she feeds on a daily basis – and they are backing her to win a national competition!

We revealed recently that Karen has been shortlisted for the LACA School Chef of the Year, North East & Scotland regional final to determine the nation’s best school chef – so we asked what some of her potentially harshest judges – the pupils she serves daily - think of her cooking skills.

Here’s what some of the P2 and P5 bairns had to say:

• Lasagne is so good – best in the whole world. 
• Karen’s Pizza is my favourite. It is so good. 
• I love when Karen cooks meat. Especially burgers because they are the best.   
• I think she is really good as before she was a baker and now she is our school cook. She has done lots of cooking.  
• I hope she wins the competition.  
• I hope she wins the competition because she is so good at making food delicious. 
• She makes very good fish.
• Her meatballs are awesome and she’s very kind.
• Her vegetables are out of this world
• Her steak pie is lovely and her apple crumble is the best

The event is sponsored by Quorn and so Karen set herself a challenge to come up with a two-course meal using at least one Quorn product, but which also have an Orkney flavour.

More details on the next stage of the competition and Karen’s ingredients will be revealed soon. Keep an eye on OIC Updates for further news.

In the meantime, the Stromness Primary P2 bairns – photographed  - wanted to wish Karen good luck.