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24 Oct 2025
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24 Oct 2025
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Zion Onalimi from Mountmellick who has won a place in the 2023 All Ireland Junior Home Cook Champion final, pictured with Charlo the Chef.
A Laois teenager from a well known foodie family has won his place in a national cooking award.
Zion Onalimi, 13 from Mountmellick was awarded first prize in a heat for the All Ireland Home Cook Champion Finals.
A first year student in Mountmellick Community School, Zion comes from a house of talented foodies.
He is a son of Michael Onalimi, founder of award winning Laois sauce company Flavour Safari, and mum Tara Ona who bakes occasion cakes.
Zion had to cook his own meal within 45 minutes, on-stage while speaking into a microphone to a full audience. He was up against other older competitors aged up to 18 in the heat held at the Cork Summer Show.
Tara and Michael are thrilled for him.
"We are absolutely so proud of him. He did so well. He had been practicing making his dish at home," Tara told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
Zion cooked ginger, chilli and lime salmon with a chorizo and vegetable couscous.
He now goes on to the national finals of the All Ireland Home Cook Championship, to be held in Claremorris on August 6.
Tara posted a lovely tribute to her son on social media with these photographs.
"Once upon a time, there was a young boy who loved to cook and dreamed of being a chef and thought why wait until he grows up... I'M GONNA DO IT RIGHT NOW!!
"So super proud of you Zion ~ You absolutely smashed it!!! Straight through to The All Ireland Home Cook Champion Finals 2023!
"He believed he could do it and he cooked up a storm at Cork Summer Show today and honestly we couldn't be prouder of you my boy and the amazing young man that you are! CONGRATULATIONS Zion!!!! Even the sky is not the limit for you.....
The winners in both the Junior and Senior categories of the competition have a chance to win a NordMende appliance voucher worth €1000 and a week cooking course including accommodation in Ballymaloe Cookery School. Second and third prizes are Ninja vouchers.
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