SERC Success at IFEX Culinary Competitions

SERC Hospitality & Catering students have won several Gold medals at IFEX 2022 International Food Exhibition, in multiple Chef Skills Live Theatre Competitions.

IFEX is Northern Ireland’s largest industry showcase of the latest products in food and drink, interiors, catering equipment, technology and services. As part of the exhibition, the Chef Skills Live Theatre Competitions demonstrate and reward culinary talent. SERC entered several competition categories and achieved success in all of them.

A team of 11 students won Gold Medals and Best in Class Cup in the Street Food International category; Level 2 Catering student Darren Adams (Portavogie) won a Gold Medal in the Northern Ireland Culinary Ability Awards; Level 3 Patisserie & Confectionery student Conor Burns (Bryansford) won Gold Medals for Student Culinarian of the Year 2022 and IFEX Young Chef of the Year 2022; Level 3 Patisserie & Confectionery student  Joanne Barlow (Dromara) and tutor Ruth Doherty together won Gold Medals in the Decorative Exhibit category. SERC students and tutors collectively won 6 Silver Medals, 6 Bronze Medals and 8 Certificates of Merit/Participation across different categories. Level 3 Patisserie & Confectionery student Niamh Quinn (Dunmurry) also created a gold standard chocolate showpiece sculpture but was unfortunately unable to participate with her creation on the day. 

Speaking about her showpiece sculpture, Level 3 Patisserie & Confectionery student Joanne Barlow said, "I wanted to do a chocolate showpiece that incorporated my passion for baking with aviation. But it also had a link to my family history, my grandfather's uncle carved a Wellington bomber out of wood, whilst he was a test pilot in the RAF during the war. He then passed this down to my grandfather, who passed it onto my father who passed it onto me. So, I sculpted the Wellington bomber and Spitfire out of chocolate to place on the stand and a poppy in remembrance of my grandfather's uncle."

On the Street Food International win, Paul Mercer, SERC Deputy Head of School of Hospitality, Management and Catering at SERC said, “This is the third consecutive year we have won the top award Gold Medals for the Street Food International competition and we were delighted to take the Best in Class Cup for the category.   We had fantastic feedback from the judges with one commenting that “we didn’t just produce street food, but street food and a dining experience”.

He added,"Our student’s street food expertise has excelled with the use of our enterprise food truck which helps students practise their street food skills in a practical setting by supporting local festivals, concerts and activities in the community.”

Check out SERC Facebook for more IFEX winning student photos which will be posted shortly.

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