Hospitality students from across the UK came to Brockenhurst College recently to compete in a nationwide culinary competition.
Organised in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs, the Wessex Salon Culinaire saw 350 participants compete in a range of categories.
Contestants travelled from as far away as Glasgow and Hull to participate in the two-day event.
The five categories comprised Live Hot, Live Cold, Restaurant, Display and Wessex Bake Off, all of which were broken down into heats that encompassed a range of proficiency levels.
Work was judged meticulously with scores given for taste, smell and presentation, as well as efficiency and hygiene standards.
To add another element of pressure to the mix, live rounds required competitors to complete their dishes against the clock in front of an audience.
Among the 25 judges were international industry professionals as well as representatives of local establishments including The Montagu Arms Hotel and The Chewton Glen Hotel.
Brock’s Hospitality and Catering students came away with a raft of awards including 13 gold medals, five silver medals, three bronze medals and one certificate of merit.
Lecturer in Food and Beverage Operation at Brock, Cathy MacArthur, said: “This event is all about supporting learners and giving them a prime opportunity to put themselves out there to be judged in a competitive environment.
“It’s a busy few days, but our students love the buzz and excitement of this event, and they’ve put in a lot of time and effort to practise their skills beforehand,” she added.
After the competition, student Kris Insatorn commented: “I won gold medals in the cocktail, table layout and flambé rounds, and I couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s a fantastic way to end my time at Brock before starting full-time work as a waiter at Carey’s Manor.”
Winners from Brock:
Kris Insatorn (3 golds)
Ariadna Guttierez (2 golds)
Ellie Rees (2 golds)
Eloise Perrett (2 golds)
Chloe Holliday (1 gold and 1 silver)
Ben Estall (1 gold and 1 silver)
Lewis Ingram (1 gold)
Luke Sque (1 gold)
Jackson Merrin (2 silvers)
Harry Morgan (1 silver and 1 bronze)
Ewan Houghton (1 bronze)
Matthew Mills (1 bronze and 1 merit)
