A SCHOOLBOY is making his mark as a budding chef after reaching the regional finals of a competition.

Fourteen-year-old Ayrton Shaka Sukul served up pan fried pollock and tarte tatin in the local finals of the Future Chef 2010 competition, and his dishes came out top in the taste test.

He now goes onto the regional finals of the cooking contest in which thousands of pupils from more than 700 schools throughout the UK are taking part.

The teenager attends Frederick Bremer School in Siddeley Road, Walthamstow, and spends a day and a half a week at Waltham Forest College in Forest Road, Walthamstow, where he is studying for a diploma in hospitality.

He said: “I am a big fan of Gino D’Acampo and I love watching him cooking on television. He is my inspiration and I want to go all the way in this competition so I can follow in his footsteps.

“I would like to own my own restaurant. I love cooking and always cook at home with my family.”

Mary Jo Hoyne, head of school for hospitality, travel and tourism at Waltham Forest College, said: “His success in this competition will allow him to explore many other aspects of the hospitality industry.”

The local finals were the second stage of the four stage competition organised by the national youth charity Springboard.

The four finalists had to prepare a hot main course and hot or cold dessert for two people, with a budget of £6.

Ayrton is one of nine pupils from four secondary schools studying for a higher level diploma in hospitality, which is the equivalent of seven GCSEs.

Pupils from Tom Hood, Kelmscott, and Rushcroft schools in Waltham Forest, as well as Frederick Bremer School, are studying for the diploma at the college.

In addition to cooking, the course covers business, kitchen design, and front of house operations.