A STUDENT from Bramley enjoyed a culinary experience in Italy after winning a national competition.

Kitty Grosse was crowned the national winner of the Rotary Young Chef Competition and enjoyed a two-day trip to a cookery school in Toscana, Saporita.

While there, the teenager had the opportunity to be taught by renowned chefs, learning the art of true Tuscan cuisine in the heart of Tuscan countryside.

Under the tutelage of chefs such as Keith DiLauro, Alessio J.M Da Prato and Magdalena Morales, the St Nicholas School student tried her hand at making pizza and biscotti.

Kitty said: “I particularly enjoyed seeing how olives are collected at Toscana Saporita’s very own olive grove and then having a tasting session of different olive oils.

“I learnt how to tell the difference between a new and an old oil and tasted both the school’s own oil as well as Filippo Berio’s.

“I had no idea that one kind of oil could taste so different, just coming from different regions.”

With every lesson, the teachers provided Kitty with an insight into the origin of where the foods she was using came from and provided her with words of culinary wisdom that she said she “will never forget”.

Kitty added: “Not only did I get the opportunity to cook, but I also visited Lucca and Pisa.

“Italy is a beautiful country, and these towns were no exception. I was able to go up the Leaning Tower of Pisa and survey the surrounding area which was breath-taking. And, of course, I took the classic photo of holding it up.”

She added: “Since arriving home, I have been in the kitchen as much as possible, making biscotti and bread, eager for my friends and family to try true Tuscan cuisine and learn as much as I have about the craft of cooking.”