Following the competition’s final cookoff at Belmont City College last week, the winner of the 2015 Hospitality Training Group (HTG) Taste of the Future cooking competition has been announced.
Open to year 11 and 12 students in WA schools, the competition is designed to promote and raise awareness of chef apprenticeships to secondary school students.
The competition gave students the opportunity to showcase their passion for the trade in front of judges Don Hancey (WA Food Ambassador), Stephen Clarke (Clarke’s of North Beach) and Paul Beard (Perth Arena), each of which commented on the high calibre of the food presented by each entrant.
For the second year in a row, a student from Narrogin Senior High School took out first prize. Jordan McLeish created his take on a Frenched chicken ballotine with fondant potatoes and marsala sauce, which the judges say was cooked perfectly with a range of well balanced flavours. McLeish says that he is now planning on moving to Perth to embark upon his career as an apprentice chef.
Together with the winning title, McLeish was also awarded an apprentice scholarship valued at $4500 and a cash prize. Additional cash prizes were also awarded place holders.
Results for the HGT Taste of the Future School Cooking Competition:
- Winner – Jordan McLeish – Narrogin Senior High School
- 2nd Place – Kaylee Bradley – Warwick Senior High School
- 3rd Place – Taillah Buckley – Swan Christian College
- 4th Place – Harrison Joyce – Mindarie Senior College
- 5th Place – Rebecca Armistead – Northam Senior High School
The schools attended by the top five finalists also received a $1000 voucher for kitchen equipment for their school.
“HGT received a large number of applications from students throughout Perth and Regional areas and those selected as finalists should be proud of their efforts,” said Iain McDougall, general manager, HTG. “The applications received were of an outstanding standard”.