Hospitality and Catering students prove to be MasterChef’s at IFEX exhibition

SERC hospitality and catering students from all campuses have been taking part in the IFEX competition in The Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast. 

The IFEX exhibition is Northern Ireland’s PREMIER showcase of the latest food and drink products, catering equipment, interiors, technology and services to the food, retail and hospitality industries.

Students from SERC’s School of Business, Hospitality and Tourism, have taken part in the IFEX ChefSkill competition which featured students from the College’s full and part-time professional cookery and hospitality courses.

A long day of hard work has paid off for many of the students and have been rewarded for their effort and determination:

Andrew Bradford achieved a Bronze Medal in the Classical Junior Chicken competition.

Adam Jones was awarded Merit in the Classical Junior Chicken competition.

Adam Proctor achieved a Bronze Medal in the Classical Junior Duck competition.

Adam Thompson was awarded a Merit for the Classical Junior Duck competition.

Brian Magill achieved a Bronze Medal in the Calorie wise competition.

Brooke Allen was awarded a Merit in the Contemporary Restaurant Dessert Class and a Merit in Larder Knife Skills competition.

Christina McBratney was awarded a Certificate of participation in the Classical Junior Chicken competition.

Daniel Rainey was awarded a Merit for for the Junior Duck and NI young chef of the year competitions.

Darren Boyle was awarded a Merit for NI Student Culinarian of the Year 2018.

Eoin Gallagher was awarded a Certificate of participation in the Student culinarian of the year competition.

Ioan Ionut Largeanu achieved a Bronze Medal in the Student culinarian of the year competition.

Jake McKenna achieved a Bronze Medal in the Vegan challenge.

Kyle Walker achieved a Bronze Medal in the Culinary Ability Awards.

Matthew McGivern achieved a Silver Medal in the Larder Knife Skills competition.

Tom Mc Cluney achieved a Bronze Medal in the Great Northern Ireland Bake Off competition.

But one student has outshined the rest, a huge congratulations must go to Rachel Carson who was named NI Student Culinarian of the Year 2018.

The team of Bryan Sarmiento, Adam Brown and Matthew Ballantine received a Silver medal in the Northern Ireland Cook and Serve Championship Tony Hughes Memorial Trophy.  

Finally, the team of Alicia Johnston, Scott Hunter, Andy Adams, Lee Elliott, Ben Fleming, Josef Mitchell, Mutahir Ahmed, Stephen Warnock, Matthew Ballantine and Christopher Ballantine along side tutors Paul Mercer, Tom McCluney, Brian Magill and Simon Russell received a Gold medal and best in class for the Street food international competition.

It wasn't just students that are taking part at IFEX this week. Congratulations to SERC Hospitality and Catering tutors Ruth Doherty and Thomas McCluney who have also been competing.  Ruth was awarded Best in Class for Decorative Exhibit and Novelty Cake categories for truly outstanding cake designs. Where Thomas achieved a Bronze medal in the Andrew Ingredients Great NI Bake Off.

James Currie Head of School for School of Hospitality, Management, Tourism and Languages , at SERC said “This competition is renowned for its competitiveness and attracts some of the very best up and coming chefs from across Ireland so I am absolutely thrilled for the students to have the opportunity to take part.  The event also attracts key people from within the hospitality and catering industry so it’s a great opportunity to showcase what the college offers.”

SERC Principal and Chief Executive Mr Ken Webb commented; “The competition was an excellent opportunity for our students to demonstrate the high level of skills they have learnt during their studies.

“For students and staff to compete so successfully, to such a high standard, is outstanding. This level of success illustrates the quality of education and training on offer within SERC and showcases how talented our students and staff really are.”