ASPIRING student chefs from Saints partners St Helens College are set to shine in a top culinary competition, Battle of the North West as part of the Business of Food & Drink Festival celebrations.
The event is part of the city wide initiative to mark the International Festival for Business (IFB) 2014 which is set to attract businesses from around the globe to the region in a 50-day festival taking place during June and July.
Budding catering and hospitality students from colleges across the region will compete in the regions first ever Inter-college cook and serve competition on Monday 7 July at St George’s Hall.
The select group of St Helens College students have put together a delicious set menu to showcase their range of culinary skills and to utilise a selection of specially selected North West produce.
Catering students will be tasked with inventing and preparing a four-course meal to then be formally served by hospitality students. This will be overseen by the competition judges who are leading industry chefs and examiners.
Students will receive advice and mentoring from industry expert and local catering champion, Paul Askew, chef at The London Carriage Works Restaurant and Food and Beverage Director for Hope Street Hotel.
This is to be followed by a glittering gala dinner hosted by world renowned celebrity chef Simon Rimmer and John Williams, Executive Chef of the Ritz. The five-course dinner, taking place on Friday 11 July at the Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool will see the winners from the Cook and Serve competition crowned and presented with certificates from esteemed chef John.
Terry Lavin, Head of Catering and Hospitality at St Helens College said: “The competition provides students with a unique opportunity to meet and work alongside industry professionals and gain real work experience.
“The food and hospitality industry in our region is really alive and kicking at the moment and we are set to witness even more growth with further improvements to the Visitor Economy in the Liverpool City Region. This presents our students with fantastic career opportunities upon completion of their qualifications.
“It is a great honour for St Helens College to be participating in the competition, our students have really invested a lot of time and effort into their entry and I would like to wish all the contestants the best of luck.”
The event hopes to raising funds for national charity Chefs Adopt a School, which raises the awareness of food education in schools.
Back row left to right; students chefs – Stephanie Bentham, Callum Hurle, Lucy Allcock, Dean Evans and Katie Webster. Front row left to right, hospitality students – Stephanie Birchall, Sophie King, Miranda James and Katie Donnelly.
