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Creating Future Chefs: secondary school pupils feel the heat in the kitchen

Posted By:
Southern Regional College

6th Dec 2023

Southern Regional College’s Newry campus hosted the local heat for Springboard’s FutureChef competition which saw four students from local schools compete to represent their county at the Northern Ireland finals in February 2024.

The competition is a school-based programme across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland that supports the development of key life skills whist inspiring young people to pursue an exciting career within the Hospitality Industry.

The FutureChef competition is an opportunity for students aged between 11 and 16 to showcase their culinary talents, receive useful feedback from industry experts, grow their confidence and further their career in the Hospitality Industry. Many of these students come to SRC to take part in the School Partnerships Programme.

The competition involved each student creating a main course under 60 minutes using a budget of £5.00 but this didn’t stop the students producing fantastic dishes despite the competition pressures. The four students, Lubo Mulkerns, St Paul’s High School, Alisha Sibanda, Newry High School, Sarah Moore and Beth Morrow, Banbridge Academy competed against each other to win a place at the Northern Ireland Finals.

The judging panel included Darragh Dooley, Executive Head Chef at Killeavy Castle Estate, John Clark, Head Chef at Slieve Donard, Geoff Baird, Executive Development Chef for Henderson Foodservice and Ciaran Sansome, Head Chef at the Seagoe Hotel. All four judges remarked on the exceptional talent as they had the difficult decision of choosing the winning dish from an impressive selection!

Special congratulations to Lubo Mulkerns from St Paul’s High School who was crowned the winner for his winning dish of Pulled Smoked Taco Chicken, Coriander Salsa, Asian Slaw, and Homemade Yogurt Flatbreads! Lubo will now compete in the Northern Ireland Finals on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at Belfast Metropolitan College.

Well done to all four competitors. Each student was fantastic and presented wonderful dishes under time constraints – we may have found some future local chefs!

Matt Turner, Head of Faculty for Professional Services at Southern Regional College commented:

“It was wonderful to attend such a prestigious event to see such an amazing array of talent with outstanding passion for the Hospitality Industry. I had the pleasure of meeting all four competitors as they produced exceptional dishes that our local restaurants would have envious of. I extend my best wishes to Lubo as he progresses to the Northern Ireland Finals in February 2024.”

Sinead Boyle, Culinary Arts Lecturer at Southern Regional College further commented:

“Lubo is a hard-working young man who always smiles when he is working with food. He has a positive attitude and does not shy away when something in the kitchen doesn’t go to plan! Lubo is a pleasure to teach and to mentor to the Final Heats”. 

 

For further information on our School Partnership Programme, please visit: https://www.src.ac.uk/about-us/schools-partnership-programme