Knives Out for Top Cooking Award

Knives Out for Top Cooking Award

The knives will be out when tertiary establishments from around the country go head-to-head in a live kitchen cook off at the 20th Nestlé Toque d’Or competition this year.

Twelve tertiary establishments have confirmed their involvement in this year’s event which is viewed by those in the hospitality industry to be the country’s premier student culinary and restaurant service competition.

Event organiser Pip Duncan said teams confirmed to compete include:
Aoraki Polytechnic - Timaru; Auckland University of Technology; Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology; Eastern Institute of Technology; Manukau Institute of Technology; New Zealand Defence Force Joint Services Catering School; Southern Institute of Technology; The Culinary Institute of New Zealand; UCOL Palmerston North; Wellington Institute of Technology; Waiariki Institute of Technology – Rotorua and the New Zealand School of Culinary Arts at the Practical Education Institute.

Last year, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology picked up the top spot in the competition walking off with the coveted ‘golden hat’ trophy.

“Teams of three - two culinary and one restaurant service students - will be hand-picked by tutors to represent each establishment at the event,” Pip said.

“The students competing in the event are required to prepare and serve six covers of a three-course meal within two-and-a-half hours under the watchful gaze of a panel of high profile industry judges from around the country.”

This year’s judging line-up will be headed by SKYCITY Director of Kitchens Mark Wylie.

“Students receive scores for menu and food preparation, hygiene, presentation, and taste and service of food. They must also meet strict time deadlines for delivery of each course and must develop their own unique menus using predetermined ingredients including: Nestlé Professional products, Akaroa Salmon and Zealfresh Beef,” Pip said.

“The competition is fierce and only the very best team will be awarded the Toque d’Or (golden hat) - it’s no easy feat.”

An award aimed at recognising recipe innovation by competing teams will also be offered. The Award will be presented to the training establishment that best demonstrates innovation using a Nestlé Professional product across their menu or in a particular dish.

This year’s Nestlé Toque d’Or competition will be held at the ASB Auckland Showgrounds in Greenlane in Auckland on Monday 23 August 2010.

Sponsors of this year’s event include: Nestlé Professional, Beef & Lamb NZ, vegetables.co.nz, Akaroa Salmon and The House of Knives.

ENDS

© Scoop Media