Shannon College Takes Gold at Cook Serve Competition

A team of students from Shannon College of Hotel Management won gold at the Chef Ireland competition at Hospitality Expo in the RDS last week. Over 200 entries were received by Chef Ireland for the eleven categories of culinary competitions for senior professionals and junior chefs.  Chef Ireland is one of the largest and most prestigious national competitions for professional chefs in Ireland at both senior level and the annual event attracts entries from leading restaurants and hospitality establishments across the country.

The Shannon College team included David Wallace from Bunratty (Co Clare),  Tracy Deane from Kellistown (Co Carlow) and Peter Searle from Castlegregory (Co Kerry). The students were coached by Shannon College lecturers Mr Andrew Langford, Chef Sarah Ryan and Chef Sean T Ruane who mentored the students throughout the preparation and training in the weeks leading up to the competition.

According to Shannon College lecturer, Chef Sarah Ryan “the Cook Serve event is a 90 minute high-pressure competition involving a team of two chefs and a server who plan, prepare, cook and present a meal to invited guests and a panel of judges. There are a number of complex compulsory elements including a speciality coffee and flambé dish. Competitors included professionals with industry experience and it is therefore a great achievement for three undergraduate students to take the gold medal.”

Lecturer in Food and Beverage Studies, Mr Andrew Langford emphasised the importance of teamwork skills in securing a win at the competition, “teamwork was the real key to this success for David, Peter and Tracy.  From the pre competition training to the day of the competition itself, all three worked together as one unit.   Tracy really put on a great show front of house, demonstrating many service skills which you don’t tend to see all that often in many restaurants.  These skills included preparing tableside an aperitif cocktail, flambé and aerating a bottle of wine among others.”