Witt culinary students win silver medal
A team from the Western Institute of Technology (Witt) have proven to be winners in and out of the kitchen, after they won silver medals at the prestigious annual Nestle´ Toque d’Or student culinary competition.
Culinary students Tom Simon and Omkar Kulkami went headto-head with hospitality students from around the country to win silver at the Auckland event. Restaurant service student Cassandra Hancock who also formed part of the team, also picked up a silver medal.
Tom and Omkar battled it out for more than three hours against 10 other teams from around the country to create their medalwinning three-course menu that was served to guests by Cassandra.
The pressure was on throughout the live cook-off, as the team fought against the clock and scrutiny of top industry judges including world renowned chef Gert Klotzke of Sweden. The panel of judges was led by high-profile chef and leading culinary figure Darren Wright. Competing teams were marked against WorldChefs International Judging Standards, which include food preparation, presentation, taste and service.
The event, which has been running for 26 years, is a key fixture on the culinary calendar and is hotly contested by the country’s leading hospitality institutes.
Event organiser and New Zealand Chefs Association President Graham Hawkes said Nestle´ Toque d’Or challenges competitors to put into practice everything they had learned, remain calm and produce their very best dish and service to achieve great results.
‘‘On the day, there’s no room for error as points are lost for any slip ups that might occur. Aside from the competitive component, the event also puts the students in front of some of the most highlyregarded culinary professionals from New Zealand which opens new doors to rewarding career opportunities.’’
The overall winner of the competition was a team from the Universal College of Learning in Palmerston North. A special award sponsored by Moffat that recognises innovative use of Nestle´ Professional products across a team’s menu, went to Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Rotorua Campus.
The Nestle´ Toque d’Or is also held in 17 other countries around the world and has launched the careers of many world-famous chefs.