A big congratulations to Team Hawke’s Bay from Workforce Development, proud supporters of the team.
Team Hawke’s Bay (Regional Secondary School Culinary Team) has just returned from the Hospitality NZ National Culinary Fair, one of the largest and most prestigious culinary competitions in the country.
The students, eleven in total, were selected from a number of regional schools across Hawke’s Bay and after several months of training and fine tuning of skills set of for the competition in Auckland.
Workforce Development have been supporters of the Hawke’s Bay team and its manager Craig Ireland for some time now. Tutors Damian Peeti, Martin Poe Moore and Glyn Waterfield have dedicated a considerable amount of time, energy and effort in assisting the team in its preparation for the event. By the way, look out for the monthly recipe in the Napier Mail provided by Damian, Martin and Glyn.
The students have trained at Preperado (Workforce’s Training Restaurant) and Napier Boys High School where both facilities have been well utilised.
The eleven students were entered in twenty-three different classes over the three days kicking off at 6; 00am on Sunday the 23rd, August after a very early 4; 30am start and.the final competition starting at 3; 00pm on Tuesday, the 25th of August and finishing just before 5; 00pm.
Over the three day period the team secured a total of seventeen medals, silvers and bronze, plus two merit certificates.
Workforce tutor Damian Peeti earlier this year gained his Culinary Judging Qualification, which allows him to judge competitions just like this; and while in Auckland tutor and trainer Glyn Waterfield completed his judging qualification and will be presented with his judging medal and certificate at a ceremony later this year.
As an added bonus for the students they were invited by Chef of the Nation 2009, winner Frankie Godinho, to assist the New Zealand Culinary Team at the Torque D’Or Dinner on Monday evening the 24th.
The Torque D’Or event is the most prestigious culinary competition for polytechnics in the country. Following the competition there is a celebration dinner and the Team Hawke’s Bay students were very able in assisting Frankie in his part of the food preparation and delivery.
This was a great effort all round with great skill shown by the students, very ably assisted and supported by the team manager and all the background supporters who make trips like this happen. What a great success and also a wonderful learning experience for all the students.
Congratulations Team Hawk’s Bay from Workforce Development!
