Top Wins for SERC at UK Young Risotto Chef of the Year NI ROI Regional Heats

SERC is celebrating wins in the NI & Ireland Regional heat for the Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022, which saw four SERC students placed in the competition hosted at the College’s Bangor Campus.

Paul Mercer, Deputy Head of School of Hospitality, Management, Tourism & Languages at SERC said, “We are absolutely thrilled for 1st place winner, Thomas Disney, 18 from Killyleagh, who is studying Level 3 Professional Cookery (part-time) and 2nd Place winner, Catrina Stanfield, 20, Newtownards from Level 3 Professional Cookery."

He added, “Both students have secured a spot at the UK Grand Final on 4 April which will be hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. They will compete with winners from regional heats from across the UK and Ireland, for an amazing first prize which includes a prestigious trip to Italy for a three-day Stage with Fabio Pisani, Alessandro Negrini and their team at the 2 Michelin starred Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia in Milan, famous for its contemporary Italian cuisine, and a tour of the Riso Gallo Rice Mill.” 

Four students from SERC competed in the competition, with 3rd place going to Pearse Sweeney, 17, Portaferry, Level 2 Professional Chef and 4th place to Rory Watson, 17, Bangor, from the Level 3 Professional Cookery.

The Italian flavour was carried through the College with Vicky Stone, Lecturer in Art & Design (Print) leading a collaborative Project Based Learning project entitled The Italian Job, in which art students produced Italian themed artwork for display in SERC’s The Birches restaurant especially for the competition. Jason Morrison, MD Riso Gallo, was thrilled to take home an original print of the Leaning Tower of Pisa by Katie Robinson, 18, from Newtownards, from the Level 3 Technical Diploma Art and Design. Mr Morrison was overwhelmed with the efforts of all the students, both Hospitality and Catering and Art and Design, for the competition.

Paul concluded, “Competitions like this give our students experience of working under pressure and the opportunity to get feedback and network with top chefs from across the world.  We are immensely proud of all the students who took part”

Apply now for hospitality and catering programmes commencing September 2022. 

Pictured above:

Keeping cool in the kitchen: SERC students scooped First to Fourth places in the NI & Ireland Regional heat for the Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022 competition hosted in the College’s Bangor Campus. Students Thomas Disney, 1st place and Catrina Stanfield 2nd place will compete in the Final in London on 4 April 2022.

Pic 1: SERC’s Thomas Disney (18, Killyleagh) 1st place, with competitors Leslin Joy, Jon Barr, Lewis Rogers from Ulster University and Dundalk College.

Pic 2: Catrina Stanfield (20, Newtownards) 2nd place with competitors Tomas Vesley, Pearse Sweeney (17, Portaferry) 3rd place and Rory Watson (17, Bangor) 4th place.

Pic 3: SERC’s Hospitality & Catering Lecturer Brian Magill, with Jason Morrison MD Riso Gallo MD, who was presented with an original print of the Leaning Tower of Pisa by Katie Robinson, 18, from Newtownards, Level 3 Technical Diploma Art and Design, and Paul Mercer, Deputy Head of School.