Master Pâtissier Florian Poirot Holds Masterclasses at SERC

Master Pâtissier Florian Poirot, UK Pastry Champion and winner of the Sugar Prize at the World Pastry Cup, has held a masterclass in sugar and pastry at SERC Bangor Campus, for three students who have qualified for the WorldSkillsUK Final.  

Florian, born in France, has been involved in culinary arts since he was six years old, working in his grandfather's bakery. Later he would graduate from the Nancy Culinary School, achieving ‘Master in Pastry and Confectionery’. He later moved to the UK and became the UK Pastry Champion, giving him the chance to represent the UK at the World Pastry Cup in 2017.  

SERC Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery - Patisserie and Confectionery students, Eimear McCarthy (Kircubbin), Zara Shiels (Lisburn) and Marija Kuzaite (Coalisland) joined Florian in the college’s kitchen for two days of masterclass training ahead of the students' participation in the WorldSkills UK Finals for Confectionery from 14 - 18 November in Belfast. 

Paul Monaghan, SERC Lecturer in Hospitality and Catering, said “Florian demonstrated techniques of handling sugar necessary for the students to create a sugar showpiece for the competition. He shared skills in sugar pulling, blowing sugar, and making ribbons which left us all in awe. After the masterclass, the students got the opportunity to develop their own showpieces which they are still planning and will have to reproduce under time constraints in competition. This was an amazing opportunity.” 

Keep an eye out for Eimear, Zara and Marija in the WorldSkills Finals, starting on 14 November. 

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