Student chef versus student chef
Trainee chefs from UCOL’s three campuses battle it out in Palmerston North tomorrow in a rapid fire test of their skill
and ingenuity.
In a contest similar to those in television’s Top Chef shows, the three teams of students will be given a Mystery Box of
ingredients. They’ll then have just 20 minutes to decide on their menu, then one hour to execute it and plate up two
identical portions.
The chief judge will be well known Palmerston North chef Chetan Pangam from the Kingsgate Hotel, supported by teaching
staff from UCOL’s Palmerston North, Whanganui and Wairarapa campuses.
The competitors are Level 3 Catering students, studying at the three campuses. They will all receive a Certificate of
Participation – and the home campus of the winning team will be awarded a trophy.
Head of UCOL’s School of Tourism, Hospitality and Continuing Education Julie Poole says the contest is a great way to
fire up the students’ imaginations and give them a taste of work under pressure. She adds that UCOL Hospitality and
Catering staff at the three campuses work collaboratively “but there’s no harm in stirring up some inter campus rivalry
from time to time.”
The Mystery Box contest will be held at UCOL Block 9 in Queen Street this Friday, starting at 10 a.m.
ENDS