Learners and apprentices from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of Further Education and Training, Hospitality Campus were ecstatic recently as they scooped multiple accolades at the Chef Ireland Culinary Competitions 2021. The event, hosted by the Panel of Chefs of Ireland, took place over three days (November 2nd – 4th) at CATEX, Ireland’s largest food service and hospitality exhibition at the RDS in Dublin. As one of the first big trade events to take place since Covid-19, this was a very important platform for the hospitality industry, which has been one of the hardest-hit sectors throughout the pandemic.
Designed as the ultimate showcase for the food, drink, and hospitality industry, this year’s event welcomed scores of competitors from all over Ireland. These talented chefs spent weeks preparing for the prestigious competition, perfecting their skills in their respective categories. Over the three days, the team from the College of Further Education and Training, Hospitality Campus in Limerick took home an incredible haul of awards. Team mentors Bernadette Enright, Manager, and Chef Kieran Shaughnessy, Instructor, were delighted with the team’s results. Bernadette said: “The success that was demonstrated at the Chef Ireland Culinary Competitions 2021 only comes from hours and hours of hard work, dedication and enthusiasm. These skills were implemented by the highly-skilled mentors in the Hospitality Campus so that learners and apprentices could compete in Ireland’s largest food service and hospitality competition.”
Altogether, the team took home six gold medals, eight silver medals, five bronze medals and two certificates of merit, with every learner contributing to the impressive tally. These included Chef Will King who took home the coveted Grand Prix Senior Chef of the Year title sponsored by Dalata Hotel Group. Will also won a gold medal in the Butter Sculpture category, with Tina Kirsh taking bronze in the category. Both Will and Tina teamed up to take home joint-silver in the Three-Course Meal section.
Other award winners from the Hospitality Campus included Artis Langmanis who was crowned Junior Chef of the year sponsored by the Panel of Chefs Ireland. Olga Ledzina was also thrilled to win gold with the National Hygiene Award sponsored by The Food Safety Professionals Association (FSPA) and a silver medal for her Pasta Dish and bronze in the Macaroons category. A delighted Megan Watkins was a gold medal winner in the Asian Cuisine competition and she also took home a bronze medal for her Gourmet Cold Dessert. Molly O’Dwyer was another proud gold medal winner in the Hot Dessert category, while Leigh Caroll scooped a bronze medal in this section, and Alan Byrne took home a Certificate of Merit for his Senior Lamb dish.
Continuing the success story for learners from the campus, Adrian Cios also took home multiple titles, winning silver in Asian Street Food, bronze in the Junior Chef of the Year category, and a Certificate of Merit for his Senior Lamb Dish. Artjom Ivanovs took silver in the Senior Duck Dish category and other award winners included Kate Nealion who won a silver medal in the Junior Pork competition, while Martyn Whyte and Glen Fitzgerald won joint silver in the Junior Chef of the year category.
Speaking about the team’s achievements, Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training, said: “The Chef Ireland Culinary Competitions is an excellent test of competitor’s knowledge and skills, helping to raise the standards of culinary excellence while preparing them for a career in the exciting world of professional cookery. We are very proud of the team and mentors from the College of Further Education and Training, Hospitality Campus and encourage anyone who has a passion for creative cooking to take inspiration from these fantastic achievements.”
For more details on a range of fully-funded culinary programmes and traineeships at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of Further Education and Training, Hospitality Campus click here.
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