A TEAM of hospitality and catering students at the South Eastern Regional College’s Downpatrick campus won a host of medals and awards at the prestigious IFEX Chef Skills trade show.
Belfast’s Kings Hall was the venue for the recent three-day event, with students from the College’s full and part-time professional cookery, catering and hospitality courses taking part.
The students took part in a variety of competitions, impressing judges with their technical skills and creativity to walk away with awards.
Student chef, Reuben Lyons, who is studying an NVQ level 2 in professional cookery, competed in the junior fish competition and impressed judges in the live cook off to take home a bronze medal.
A certificate of merit was presented to professional cookery student, Nathan Cox, who competed in the senior fish challenge.
In the junior duck category, the South Eastern Regional College’s Christopher Fitzsimmons achieved a certificate of participation.
Reuben said he was “delighted” to win bronze at such a high profile event and admitted competing in the live cook off under the judges’ watchful eye was nerve wracking.
He added: “It was a lot of hard work and extremely tiring, but after winning the award it has definitely been worth it.”