Greenhills Student Wows Judges with her take on “Chicken Manchurian”

Our Lady’s College TY student, Christa Gigi, beat off stiff competition in the Healthy Home Chef All Island Cookery Competition to achieve first place in the competition’s senior category held recently at the National Centre of Excellence in Sligo.

Christa was one of sixteen finalists chosen from almost 600 entries from all over the island of Ireland. Her dish Chicken Manchurian served with brown rice and garnished with coriander was a culinary stand out in the competition. Accompanied by homemade mini flatbreads, brushed with freshly made garlic butter, red onion and green chilli side salad dressed with lime juice, Christa’s dish upheld the brief of creating a tasty and healthy meal. All about attention to detail, the meal was completed with a zesty and refreshing sweet lemonade finished with cumin seeds.

The judges led by internationally renowned chef and ambassador for Home Economics in Ireland, Neven Maguire, commented on Christa’s creativity and passion for cooking. Noting her in-depth knowledge of Indian cuisine, chef Neven remarked “she really has something”.

Christa was awarded for her efforts with a gold medal, specially commissioned glass trophy and a kmix Stand Mixer which she says she will put to good use.

Coming from a family with links to southern India, the talented young chef says that she has been cooking at home from an early age and credits her mum with being her inspiration and her first teacher of cookery. She also acknowledges the invaluable guidance and support of her Home Economics teacher Nóirín O’ Sullivan whose hard work in helping Christa prepare for her participation in the event was also recognised with a 200 euro dinner voucher for Nevin Maguire’s restaurant, Mc Nean House in Blacklion, Cavan.

And the Home Economics department in Our Lady’s College are delighted with the award of 200 hundred euro worth of kitchen equipment in recognition of the school’s nurturing of amazing foodie talent.

Staff and students at Our Lady’s College are very proud of Christa’s wonderful achievement and wish her continued success.