NorthTec students do well at Nestle Toque d’Or

Media release: NorthTec students do well at Nestle Toque d’Or (23/8/2012)

For the second year in a row NorthTec hospitality students were invited to be one of only 11 teams to compete for top honours at this year’s premier student culinary and restaurant service competition, Nestlè Toque d’Or.

In its 22nd year, the Nestlè Toque d’Or was held at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland, on August 20. In the competition teams of two culinary students and one restaurant service student went head-to-head in a live kitchen cook off. Teams had just two-and-a-half hours to produce a three course meal for six covers, under the watchful eye of 16 culinary professionals who scored the students on a number of factors including; food preparation, presentation, hygiene, taste and service.

Students Jon-Dylan Burville and Jessie McGinlay represented NorthTec as the culinary part of the team, with Roimata Adams representing front of house.

The culinary team won a Silver award at the competition, with Roimata Adams winning gold for Front of House. When asked how it felt to win gold Roimata was speechless.

All three students have competed in hospitality competitions in the past with success at regional and national level. In particular, Jon-Dylan had a very productive year in 2011, which included picking up a bronze medal at the Northland Salon Culinaire regional student contest, winning a silver medal in his class competition at the National Culinary Fare in August and winning a $2000 industry scholarship from New Zealand's largest hospitality and food service equipment supply company, Southern Hospitality.

The whole of the NorthTec hospitality department was behind the team, as was local renowned chef Brenton Low, of á Deco restaurant in Whangarei, who helped the students, along with tutor Pete Nicholl, to develop the “secret” menu that was served on the day.

In addition to the team’s competition, NorthTec had a competitor in the Table Setting, Clearing and Crumbing Down (Trainee) category, Usa Dechgitviriya, who also won a silver medal.

NorthTec is the Tai Tokerau (Northland) region's largest provider of tertiary education, with campuses and learning centres in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rāwene, Kaikohe and Kaitaia. NorthTec also has over 60 community-based delivery points from Coatesville in rural Rodney to Ngataki in the Far North.

ENDS

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