University Chefs Serve Up a Haul of Medals
April 2010
Over the past few weeks Chefs from the University of York have competed in three major culinary competitions and come away with three medals - two golds and a bronze!
The icing on the cake was the gold medal in the TUCO University Chef of the Year competition held, once again, in Blackpool. The York team of Andrew Wood, Stuart Scott and Steve Preston served up an impressive three course meal which delighted judges and ensured they were crowned the winning team. At the same event Andrew Wood, Executive Chef, also won gold medal in the individual challenge sponsored by Knorr Foods.
The TUCO competition, arranged by The University Caterers' Organisation, featured 14 finalist teams all competing to present a range of dishes that not only looked good but also tasted superb.
Commenting on this year's performance Andrew Wood praised his team members, "this is very much a team event and it highlighted the talent we have around the campus".
Steve Preston, Cook in Wentworth College, admitted to some stage fright, "this was the first time I had competed in this sort of event and I was really nervous, but once it got under way the team worked really well together". He added, "I'm chuffed!".
Earlier in the month the biennial Salon Culinaire de Londres was held as part of the massive Hotelympia exhibition in London's Excel Exhibition Centre. The Salon Culinaire is one the more prestigious catering events in Europe with a number of different competitions running throughout the week. Ian Dickson, Chef at Wentworth College, competed in the Tilda Chef of the Year and came away with a highly creditable bronze medal. The competition tested competitors to produce rice based dishes of the highest standard. Ian's bronze medal entry was notable for featuring Yorkshire favourite fillet of Whitby cod but giving it an oriental edge by serving it with wild rice and red pepper sauce.
After the medal presentation Ian was clearly delighted, but, unusually, somewhat lost for words. "Marvellous!" was his summary of the day.
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