Culinary Arts students clean up
AUT culinary arts students have done well at the recent NZ Chefs Association Te Pūkenga Secondary and Tertiary Training Hospitality Competition.
The event was held at the Manukau Institute of Technology on May 28.
All of the nine first and second-year AUT students who entered placed, with eight winning medals in both the salmon entree and pastry live-cooking divisions, and another winning the pre-prepared celebration cake division.
In total, the students brought home eight gold, six silver, and two bronze medals.
“This is an outstanding result,” AUT Lecturer Geoff Scott says.
“All these students are first-time-ever competitors. They have taken up the challenge, put themselves out there, and ultimately achieved a wonderful result. Not to mention the unique team spirit and camaraderie that they have formed.”
The live cooking required four identical plates to be put up within an hour.
“Timing was tight,” AUT Lecturer Geoff Scott says. “I noticed nerves and excitement amongst the team. But once the timer started, they were on fire and they all managed to get their food up within the time frame, even if some plates were lifted off the bench with seconds to spare.
“I overheard a couple of chefs who were looking at the final plated deserts, and one of them said: ‘a lot of these plates are better than what you would find in most top Auckland restaurants’. I am extremely proud of our students.”
Medals won by AUT Culinary Arts students
Static Celebration Cake:
Gold - Samantha Swan (winner)
Salmon Entrée:
Silver – Zephania Greig, Aislin Champion, Yuma Yoshida, Seean Quiambao, Samaria Currimbhoy,
Gold – Alyx Jones, Crystal Lee, Emily Morgan (winner)
Dessert:
Bronze – Samaria Currimbhoy, Sean Quiambao
Silver – Zephania Greig
Gold – Aislin Champion, Alyx Jones, Yuma Yoshida, Crystal Lee, Emily Morgan (winner)