GYC students rise to challenge

TWO Guilford Young College students have cooked their way to the national finals of the Australian Culinary Federation’s Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge on the Gold Coast in August.

Six teams from two schools competed in the ACF Tasmania competition in the Guilford Young College Hobart Campus kitchen earlier this month.

Devonport’s Don College and GYC, each had three teams of two competing in front of three independent industry judges.

After being given 20 minutes to break down a chicken, the students were given one hour to prepare, cook and plate four servings of a main course in which chicken was the main protein. They were judged on correct professional preparation, arrangement and presentation, and dish taste and flavours.

After a very close competition, the judges commended all the students and praised them for their preparedness to put themselves forward to be judged competitively.

Gold medallists and winners were GYC’s Amy Park and Maddie Stansfield.

GYC’s other teams, Jordan Cram/Oliver Thorpe and April Malovnek/Connor Page won silver and bronze medals, respectively.

This is just one of the many practical opportunities VET Hospitality students at GYC are given in Years 11 and 12.

Sixteen students and three teachers also recently went on a three-day foodie extravaganza in Melbourne. The visit took them from seeing the inner workings of Crown, The Langham Hotel and the MCG, to a dinner cruise, a sumptuous four-course meal at Maha and the sweet treats of Zumbo.

Another highlight of GYC’s culinary year is the annual Thai Kitchen to the World event, which sees teaching chefs from Bangkok’s university culinary school give master classes at the college.

Over the five years the program has run, 10 GYC students and two teachers have received 10-day cooking and educational scholarships to Thailand.

While front-of-house hands-on experiences include the annual college musical and many college functions held throughout the year.

According to the Guilford Young College Principal Craig Deayton, a number of GYC student’s futures lie in hospitality. “These competitions and the practical life experiences offered are invaluable as we prepare these students for the competitive industry that lies ahead of them,” he said. Enrolments for 2018 are now being taken. Applications are due by Friday, June 30. For further details phone Mrs Rose Stevens, on 6238 4367, or go to the GYC website, at www.gyc.tas.edu.au