10 June 2021
Last month, the sixth annual Battle of the Chefs competition took place at St Peter’s Catholic College in Tuggerah. Nine colleges from across the Diocese of Broken Bay took part in this challenging culinary competition.
The stakes were high, not only the eagerness to take the trophy home, but also to receive the three scholarships offered by Kenvale College at Randwick. Offered for the first time this year, the scholarships give the winners access to a fully sponsored course option at the College after finishing their HSC and are valued $13,500 each.
It was a close call with just 0.5 point difference between the first and the second place winners. The two judges, Dimitris Aronis and Sandra Stowe, from the Commercial Cookery and Hospitality Services department at the TAFE NSW Ourimbah Campus, mentioned in their speech that it was really hard this year, as the quality and presentation of the food was of such high standard and all teams worked really well together in the kitchen.
After a day long battle the students from Mater Maria, Madeline Taylor, Darcie Chapman and Brianna McKee, took the trophy and the scholarships back to Warriewood. St Joseph’s Catholic College came second and the team from Brigidine, St Ives took third place.
The competition is a great way for students to not only work on their technical skills, but also to use and grow their future work skills, as collaboration and communication is key in this challenge. These skills which are transferable to any industry these students look to take in the future.