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Catering Students Reach the Young Pastry Chef of the Year National Finals
Two students from Cornwall College St Austell have competed in a nationwide competition for their patisserie skills this month.
Hannah Rowe, 17 previously from Penrice Community College and Martin Vivian, 18, previously of Fowey Community College both took part in the Young Pastry Chef of the Year National Finals at Westminster College on March 5th.
The first stage of the competition was a paper based entry stating what the entrants planned to cook on the day. Participants had to be under 21 and currently being trained in patisserie. Out of the four finalists chosen from around the country two of them were from Cornwall College St Austell.
In the final every participant had to produce a classic hot soufflé and then a desert of their own choosing. Martin, who finished in the top four, cooked a white chocolate and passion fruit mousse in a sugar sphere. He said: “I have been practising for the challenge for about three weeks, I was quite nervous on the day especially when the judges were coming around and watching, but it was a great experience and I am really happy to have been in the final.”
Both students won a Masterchef plate and a personalised chef’s jacket for their efforts on the day. The students’ creations were marked on flavour, presentation, innovation, hygiene, workmanship, method, originality and timing by four judges of Masterchef Great Britain.
Hannah, who finished second, cooked a chocolate sphere filled with honeycomb mousse, served with a poached pear and ginger. She commented: “I would like to be a pastry chef in the future and had been practising the dish on my family for about three months. It was a nerve wracking experience but I had a great time and am really proud to have finished second in the whole country!”
Grant Mather, lead practitioner for hospitality and catering at Cornwall College stated: “The students should be really proud of their efforts, they achieved a lot just by progressing to the final. The fact that both of them have finished in the top four in the UK is a testament to the hard work and effort they have put in to the challenge. Congratulations to them both.”
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “Well done Hannah and Martin, what a brilliant result. Their achievements and skills are a great example to our current and future students of what they can achieve through hard work and dedication. It’s great to see our students entering these competitions with the excellent support from our dedicated team of staff and I’m sure they both have a promising future ahead.”
Cornwall College St Austell offers a range of Hospitality and Catering vocational programmes, with an on-site silver service restaurant, Cloisters, where students benefit from cooking and serving people in a professional environment.
For more information about Cornwall College please call 0845 22 32 567, visit www.cornwall.ac.uk, or find us on Twitter @cornwallcollege.
