Competition to find top chefs
South Australia will be holding its Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge.
The competition run by the Australian Culinary Federation will judge students not just on the flavour and recipes.
It will also be testing other kitchen skills including hygiene and organisation.
The challenge will be later this month at a time of predicted job shortages by industry experts.
The competition will see teams of two students each with 60 minutes to create two identical main courses using a chicken and ingredients of their choice.
Entrants include Brighton Secondary School Year 11 students Jarom Tucci and Samara Al Jassar .
They will be competing against 34 students in TAFE SA’s Regency International Centre on Monday, June 25.
The boys say they have been practising the cheese and smoked chicken breast dish with mushroom dumplings, bok choy and spicy sauce during their cooking classes.
“It (recipe) includes a lot of elements and flavours,’’ Samara told Adelaide Now “Jarom is very good at doing the chicken and I am good at chopping up the vegetables.’’
TAFE SA Hospitality and Cookery educational manager Belinda McPherson said the industry was keen on their cookery students.
“The majority of our students who are undertaking training in cookery get employment before they have even completed their qualification — we often get calls from restaurants and other food establishments looking for new staff,” Ms McPherson told Adelaide Now.
“As part of their training, the students are required to complete 400 hours of work placement and many of them are paid for this employment or receive a job at the end of it.
“Cookery is one of our most popular programs and we have more than 400 apprentices out working in various areas of the industry.”
Restaurant and Catering Australia deputy chief executive officer Sally Neville said there will be growing demand for chefs and cooks across the board — from school canteens to cafes, to aged care facilities right up to fine dining.
“For many years our education system has sent out people to university and has disregarded the trade as a career path,’’ she told Adelaide Now.
“But being a chef or working in hospitality can give you a great lifestyle and career.
“We are trying to get schools, young people and their families to see the trades especially cookery as a bona fide career when they leave school.’’
Leon Getler 18th June 2018.
