As well as completing the task on time and within budget, competitors were also marked on their workmanship, creativity and presentation skills; the composition, taste and flavour of their dishes; and the nutritional value of their menu choice.
FutureChef is a national culinary programme organised by the charity Springboard which aims to introduce young people to the world of catering and teaching technical cookery skills.
Molly Furey (15), a pupil at St Killian’s College, came out on top with Emily Gilchrist from Ballyclare High filling runner up spot. They now go forward to the Northern Ireland finals in Belfast in January 2020 with a chance to qualify to the national finals in Westminster Kingsway College in London later in the year.
The two judges for the competition were Robert Tessier, a catering lecturer at Northern Regional College and Donna Hughes, Catering Support Manager at Galgorm Resort. Both said they were very impressed by the quality and variety of dishes served up by the competitors. The competitors were praised for the incredibly high standard of the dishes they produced and the judges agreed that all the finalists had showed a wonderful understanding of technique and execution.
Announcing the winner, Alice Quinn, Springboard Northern Ireland Project Team, said the standard was exceptionally high. She congratulated all the competitors and admitted that it was very difficult to select a winner as there was so little separating them.
Molly’s winning dish was braised pork with apple sauce, wholegrain mustard mash, carrots and parsnips and a winter berry pavlova, while Emily served up chorizo risotto with lemon and lime cheesecake for dessert.
Congratulating all the competitors who qualified for the regional heats, Anne Birt-Macartney, assistant head of department for Hospitality and Tourism at the College said:
“This is a fantastic event that we will continue to support. On a personal note, I was amazed by the level of passion and talent these young chefs show. I would like to congratulate all of the participants and say thanks to the schools and families who supported them. This platform gives young people a head-start in their career at a time when good chefs are becoming harder to come by.
“It is the nature of our business at Northern Regional College to nurture and grow future talent. These young people demonstrate exceptional talent in the kitchen and what better way to showcase it. With the emerging chef shortage we are currently experiencing in the industry, we must do everything we can to encourage young people who are interested in careers in the hospitality & catering sector. These awards are a fantastic opportunity and we are hugely proud of our competitors today and wish Molly and Emily the very best of luck as they go into the Northern Ireland Final of Future chef in January 2020.
Northern Regional College offers a number of Catering courses from part time leisure cookery classes to professional cookery classes.