Ireland
The Knorr Student Chef of the year Competition 2012
2012 is a milestone year for The Knorr Student Chef of the Year as we celebrate the 15th year of the competition. The event has become a respected and keenly fought competition in the Irish Culinary world. Established by Unilever Food Solutions, the competition aims to discover the most talented and creative chefs coming through the ranks of Ireland’s catering colleges.
It is an ideal opportunity for Chefs of the future to showcase their talent, love of food, creativity and innovation in front of leading food professionals, including Business Development Chef of Unilever Food Solutions, Mark McCarthy and his guest Judge Martin Shanahan, Chef Proprietor of acclaimed fish restaurant Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Entry requirements
The requirement for entry to the Knorr Student Chef of the Year is that recipes are created for both a starter, which must be fish based, and main course must use at least two Knorr products from the Unilever Food Solutions product portfolio.
Students must be recommended to enter by the head of their catering college. Final cook off takes place Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Cork Institute of technology.
Previous winners have gone on to enjoy exciting careers in Ireland’s food industry and the opportunity is there for students to follow in their footsteps. The competition is open to second year students from participating catering colleges, training centres and Institutes of Technology.
Theme for the event and judging criteria
Guest Judge
Acclaimed chef Martin Shanahan is confirmed as guest judge on this year’s Knorr Student Chef of the Year. Martin is the owner of the award-winning Fishy Fishy Restaurant and Café in Kinsale, Co Cork. He is the presenter of the television series 'Martin's Still Mad About Fish' and 'Martin's Mad About Fish'.
Theme for 2012
We introduced a theme for Knorr Student Chef Competition in the past two years to great success. This year’s theme is Irish Fusion, the idea being that students take inspiration from different regional cuisines around Ireland and bring the flavours together in a stunning combination/fusion dish. The starter dish must also demonstrate a ‘taste of the sea’ and be fish-based dish to complement the skills and interest of our guest judge Martin Shanahan.
Judging Criteria
Each entry will be evaluated on creativity, practicality and effective use of two Knorr products, as well as chefmanship, composition and presentation. The starter must be fish-based dish.
For the first time this year students will be asked to explain to the judges the personal influence behind each of their dishes and points will be awarded for how they express themselves through their menu.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
This year we have some great prizes for our top chefs.
Gold -
DINNER AT THE FAT DUCK PLUS A HALF DAY FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE WITH GARETH MORGANS
The winner of the Knorr Student Chef 2012 will enjoy a two-part prize; the first part of the day will be spent in East London with famed food photographer Gareth Morgans and his food stylist. Gareth Morgans is a highly experienced freelance Food Photographer, shooting food for over a decade for Fortnum & Mason, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda to name a few.
Following on from the food photography experience the Knorr Student Chef 2012 will win an evening of gastronomic adventure in one of the most famous restaurants in the world and the No.1 Restaurant in the UK, Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Restaurant in Bray, UK. Awarded three Michelin stars, restaurant of the year, Best Restaurant in the World and Best Restaurant in the UK, eating at the Fat Duck will be huge highlight for all budding chefs.
Silver - Professional Set of Knives along with a €50 book voucher to go towards cooking books
Bronze - Starter Set of Knives €50 book voucher to go towards cooking books
Closing Date for Applicants – 16th Jan 2012.
For further details on how to apply, please send an email to: marguerite.ogorman@unilever.com
