The Sweet Taste of Success

TWO culinary experts from Doncaster College beat the crème de la crème of young culinary talent from catering colleges around the region to win gold medals at the recent North East Culinary Trade Association Awards at Newcastle Racecourse.

The annual culinary showcase gives chefs the opportunity to demonstrate their talents through a series of practical and live cookery contests over two days of competitions.

Students were pitched against each other in a series of classes, among them lamb, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as tests on their knife skills. The smells from the lamb class, which coincided with lunchtime, drew big crowds and a clutch of chefs eager to judge the produce.

Winners from Doncaster College were Stacey Hillman who won best in class and Gold Medal for cold dessert while Chef Lecturer Lisa Pyott won Gold and best in class for Marzipan Centre Piece.

The students took part in live and static competitions, all studying hospitality and catering full-time at the college.  There was an extremely high standard of competitors and they all coped very well under the pressure and it was great team work from all involved including students who came along to support their peers, staff.

The College would also like to thank local business Oxby Catering Suppliers’ who provided equipment.

NECTA awards organiser and chairman of the judges, Douglas Jordan, owner of Jordan’s restaurant in Ryton, said interest had been greater than ever this year “This event is the greatest showcase for North East cookery, from the juniors at college in their first year through to our fifth North East chef of the Year. Each year it gets better and better. We see the talent of the future coming through.”

Updated 26/05/10