A dyslexic schoolboy has won Hammersmith and Fulham's Young Chef of the Year award, following in his heroes' footsteps.
Moat School pupil Toby Cartwright, 14, who attends the special school because of his learning disabilities, is now one step closer to his dream of emulating other dyslexic professional chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White.
"I am so proud, his teacher and I were dancing with joy when it was announced," said school executive Ronda Fogel. "Toby has only ever wanted to become a professional chef and now has his chance."
His winning menu was porcini mushroom risotto with tarragon followed by grilled salmon on baby spinach with roasted red peppers and hassleback new potatoes.
Toby took home prizes of a crystal trophy and an iPod, and will be spending a day learning about the culinary arts at gastropub Butcher's Hook and Cleaver in Smithfield, City.
Six finalists battled it out from borough secondary schools including Godolphin and Latymer, Iffley Road, Hammersmith, and Fulham Cross Girls' School in Munster Road, Fulham.
Each finalist spent the morning preparing their two courses, with a 'healthy eating' theme, at TASTErestaurant in Hammersmith and West London College in Gliddon Road, Hammersmith, last Thursday.
The event's three judges were the Butcher's Hook head chef Jacky Levievne(COR), provision and hospitality catering manager Sheila Fraser-Whyte, and manager of Royal National Hotel in Russell Square, Nicholas Kummar.
