Young chefs win

A team from the Waikato Institute of Technology have proven to be winners in and out of the kitchen, winning gold and bronze medals at the prestigious annual Nestle´ Toque d’Or student culinary competition.

Culinary students Josh Gulliver and Elle Welsh went head-to-head with hospitality students from around the country to win gold at the Auckland event. Restaurant service student Michael Tainui, who also formed part of the team, picked up a bronze medal.

Josh and Elle battled it out for over three hours against 10 other teams from around the country to create their medal winning three-course menu which was served to guests by Michael.

The pressure was on throughout the live cook off, as the team fought against the clock and scrutiny of top industry judges, including world renown chef Gert Klotzke of Sweden.

The panel of judges was led by highprofile chef and leading culinary figure Darren Wright. Competing teams were marked against WorldChefs international judging standards, which include food preparation, presentation, taste and service.

The event, which has been running for 26 years, is a key fixture on the culinary calendar and is hotly contested by the country’s leading hospitality institutes.

Event organiser and New Zealand Chefs Association president Graham Hawkes said Nestle´ Toque d’Or challenges competitors to put into practise everything they had learned, remain calm and produce their very best dish and service to achieve great results.

“On the day there’s no room for error as points are lost for any slip-ups that might occur. Aside from the competitive component, the event also puts the students in front of some of the most highly-regarded culinary professionals from New Zealand which opens new doors to rewarding career opportunities.”

The overall winner of the competition was a team from the Universal College of Learning in Palmerston North.