A SELF-PROFESSED 'food geek' is hoping her school dinner menu will be a recipe for success at the North West School Chef of the Year.

Gill Wakefield, from University Academy Warrington in Padgate, will be representing Warrington at the regional final of the competition today, Thursday.

And she says while she is nervous about cooking for the judges, catering is in her blood and she will be competing in memory of her mum.

The mum-of-three added: "It's a real mix of emotions as I'm feeling anxious and excited about representing the school.

"The food industry has always been part of my life as my mum and dad (Vera and Joe Stanner) had a number of fish and chip shops in Warrington including one on Priestly Street where I was born and then one on Grafton Street in the 70s and 80s.

"I've always liked cooking and started out at Wilderspool on the butty bar at night before I was a catering manager and now I've passed on the pans to my three daughters."

Gill's two-course menu includes chicken con carne quesadillas with a guacamole dip and rice and lime and coconut panna cotta with spiced pineapple salsa for pudding.

Dinner ladies from across the region submitted two-course menus for 11-year-olds up to a maximum of £1.60.

Gill will have 90 minutes during the competition to put the dishes together.

The Catering Academy employee said they worked together as a team for the entry and picked out the meals that are the most popular for their new creation.

She added: "I've been practising at home and at the school.

"The kids love it so if they think it's great that's all that matters.

"It can be hard keeping meals to school budgets but my advice to anyone is to buy fresh ingredients and seek advice if you're not sure.

"My door is always open to anyone and I used to run a cooking club in schools for parents and pupils showing them how to cook from scratch.

"If you keep it simple everybody can eat healthily, it's just about having confidence."