South Tyneside College student chefs top taste competition

Apr 28 2010 by Katharine Everitt, The Journal

THE crème de la crème of young culinary talent from catering colleges around the region turned up the heat at the North East’s premier cooking competition yesterday.

South Tyneside College trainee chefs and staff were celebrating after coming top in the inter-college competition at the North East Culinary Trade Association (NECTA) awards held at Newcastle Racecourse.

Newcastle College were runners-up in the competition, while Tyne Metropolitan College came third.

The annual culinary showcase gives chefs the opportunity to demonstrate their talents through a series of practical and live cookery contests over two days of competitions.

Students were pitched against each other in a series of classes, among them lamb, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as tests on their knife skills.

The smells from the lamb class, which coincided with lunchtime, drew big crowds and a clutch of chefs eager to judge the produce.

The centrepiece of the event takes place today when chefs from across the region battle it out in a cook-off for the acclaimed North East Chef of the Year 2010 award.

NECTA awards organiser and chairman of the judges, Douglas Jordan, owner of Jordans restaurant in Ryton, said interest had been greater than ever this year.

He said: “This event is the greatest showcase for North East cookery, from the juniors at college in their first year through to our fifth North East chef of the Year.

“Each year it gets better and better. We see the talent of the future coming through.

“This year seven colleges were involved, six from around the region and a guest college from Bedford.”

Also celebrating was Stefan Milligan, 17, of Newcastle College, who won the Future Chef North East 2010 award, an event organised by the EAT! NewcastleGateshead food and drink festival.

The contest, which was hosted by NECTA at the racecourse, resulted in a double celebration for Stefan, who has also since been offered a job with restaurateur Terry Laybourne’s 21 Hospitality Group.

As part of the competition Stefan, 17, and runner-up Jackie Gibbs, 19, of New College, Durham, took part in three-week apprenticeships working at restaurants in the 21 group.

Stefan added: “The whole experience has been amazing. It’s completely what I want to do.”

Sue Creswell, who presented the North East England Food and Drink Group sponsored award to the best college, said: “The two-day NECTA event is a wonderful showcase for the outstanding talent that exists in the North East’s food service industry.”