Shirley named as Lucky Local for Orkney Masterchef event

Burray woman Shirley Davies has been selected for the Lucky Local spot in this year’s Orkney MasterChef competition.

Keen amateur cook Shirley will pit her culinary skills against three professional chefs from the county at next month’s competition – part of the 2014 Orkney Food Festival.

Nominated by daughter Jo, Shirley was picked from all the Lucky Local entries after a vote by the members and directors of event organisers Orkney Food and Drink.

She’ll go head to head with full-time chefs Roddy Belford (Foveran), Sarah Taylor (Hamnavoe), and Hazel Hourston (Lynnfield) at the competition, being staged in the Orkney Theatre on October 1.

Compered by BBC Radio Orkney’s Dave Gray, the event will see each chef prepare a three-course meal within a fully fitted professional kitchen, specially installed in the theatre by competition sponsors Jewson.

A panel of judges from the food and drink, tourism and catering sectors – along with some members of the audience – will sample the culinary creations before the title of Orkney MasterChef 2014 is awarded to the chef deemed to have come up with the best menu on the night.