Aoife McMahon (third) George Hennessy (winner/Supreme Apprentice Chef) and Rachel Wharton (second) show off their award winning dishes at the Apprentice Chef Finale, sponsored by Flogas Ireland and Failte Ireland at the Institute of Technology, Tralee.
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Last Friday 24 students from Cork, Kerry and Limerick enjoyed the sweet smell of success when they completed the final service of the 2015/2016 Apprentice Chef Programme which is sponsored by Flogas Ireland and Failte Ireland. Since October 2015, over 500 students have enjoyed a series of demonstrations and workshops as part of the programme which aims to promote the importance of healthy eating to enhance physical and mental wellbeing and encourage young people to consider a culinary career to help combat the current chef crisis in Ireland. All finalists enjoyed an authentic restaurant kitchen experience and served dishes which ranged from a fillet of award winning Ballinwillin Farm venison, to a mouth watering double-layered vegan chocolate cake to a panel of judges, which included Caroline Gray, editor of Easy Food Magazine. Having been mentored by accomplished Kerry chefs Mark Doe and Louise Brosnan, and supported by nutritional therapist, Susie Cox, each dish had a ‘Good Mood Food’ influence.
George Hennessy from Midleton College was announced as the Supreme Apprentice Chef with his dish of roast loin of lamb, red currant jus, fondant potato, beetroot, baby carrots and salsa verde. Buttevant’s Rachel Wharton, one of the youngest participants at 15 years is a Transition Year student at St Mary’s School, Mallow, and satisfied the judges’ sweet tooth to secure second place with her trio of desserts. Best Project was awarded to 2014/2015 Supreme Apprentice Chef, Stephanie Kearney from Colaiste Pobail Naomh Mhuire in Buttevant, who returned to participate in the programme for a second year.
Co-founder Mark Doe said, “Since we started the Apprentice Chef 4 years ago, 1,700 secondary school students have attended workshops and cookery demonstrations at IT Tralee. We are indebted to our sponsors, Flogas Ireland and Failte Ireland, for their support to date and we look forward to future collaboration to continue to build on the programme’s success and take it to national level.”