Eastbourne teen credits her late dad with her culinary success

Caoimhe O’Neill-McGuinness, from Eastbourne, was crowned following a finale earlier this month. She credits her late dad, Dax, with her success.

Speaking to The Argus the 18-year-old said: “My dad passed away in January. He taught me everything I know about cooking. He did all the cooking in the house and most of his pay went on ingredients. As I grew up we bonded through cooking - we would try each other’s food.

“After he died, I didn’t know what to do. With grief you don’t know what to do with your life. I didn’t want to study, but I liked the idea of cooking. I looked at the Cordon Bleu course but there was no way I could afford it, so when I saw the scholarship I applied.”

The finalists were tasked with recreating a Provençal tart (Image: Le Cordon Bleu) At the final stage of the competition, held at Le Cordon Bleu London, 15 shortlisted finalists were tasked with recreating a Provençal tart as demonstrated to them by Le Cordon Bleu London’s head cuisine chef Eric Bediat.

“As they gave the demonstration we had to take notes - there was no recipe. That was the most nerve-wracking bit.”

Caoimhe has been awarded a full scholarship to pursue Le Cordon Bleu’s renowned Grand Diplôme, followed by a three-month internship at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu along with mentoring from Michel Roux Jr and accommodation in London for a year. The course will begin in January and take nine months. 

Caoimhe with chefs Chris Galvin and Michel Roux Jr (Image: Le Cordon Bleu) The scholarship awards evening was attended by celebrated chefs and restaurateurs such as Michel Roux Jr, Chris Galvin, Michael Kwan (The Dorchester), Rakesh Nair (Cinnamon Collection), Nicolas Houchet (The Savoy), Daniel Stucki (Sketch) and Shaun Whatling (The Berkeley). 

Caoimhe said: “We didn’t know they [the chefs] were going to be there - it was a surprise. He [Michel Roux] walked in and smiled at me, and I was like wait, what!”