Apprentice Chefs Turn up the Heat in the Kitchen!

Two talented Home Economics students in Hazelwood College have confirmed that they can take the heat in the kitchen when they wowed judges with their exceptional culinary skills in the Apprentice Chef final held in the Institute of Technology, Tralee on Friday last.

It was a hotly contested final with Julia O’ Doherty TY and Laura Stack 2nd year competing against 6 other finalists from schools in Kerry and Cork. The students had to create a recipe for a main course using ingredients listed in the “Good Mood Food List” with marks being awarded on presentation, quality and skills demonstrated along with a written project.

Laura Stack created a mouth watering dish which consisted of crispy chicken with spinach and tarragon stuffing served with roast vegetable filo basket and a bell pepper sauce. Julia O’ Doherty impressed judges with her sole roulade served on a bed of stir fry vegetables, potato gratin and a prawn bisque sauce. This creation led to Julia being crowned as the overall winner by the judges who commented on Julia’s impressive level of skills for someone so young and her extensive knowledge regarding her coursework. Apprentice Chef Mentor Judge Mark Doe said “We have been blown away by the standard of not only the cooking of the students’ dishes, but just as importantly the standard of projects they submitted”

Julia’s exceptional win was rewarded with a very generously sponsored prize of €1,000 worth of cooking equipment for Hazelwood College by Lee Strand, a three day internship with Apprentice Chef Mentor Simon Regan at the 5 Star Hotel Europe in Killarney, three cookery workshops with Apprentice Chef Mentor Mark Doe at “Just Cooking” cookery school in Firies, three Innerjoy Wellbeing coaching sessions with Susan Fitzgerald, an Apprentice Chef uniform, kitchen utensils and certificate.

Laura along with the other 6 runners-up received prizes consisting of a three hour cookery masterclass at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, an Apprentice Chef uniform and certificate. Their Home Economics teacher at Hazelwood College Ms. Daly was overjoyed with the news and was thrilled that their interest, enthusiasm and talent shone through on the day.

Photo: Sixteen year old Julia O’Doherty, a transition year student in Hazelwood College who was announced as the Overall Winner of The Apprentice Chef 2013. Presenting her with a cheque of 1,000 euros is John O’Sullivan General Manager Lee Strand, from left, Mark Murphy Lecturer ITT, Simon Regan, Chef – Hotel Europe, Mark Doe, Chef – Just Cooking, John Murray Lecturer ITT, Susan Fitzgerald Innerjoy & Wellbeing Coach, Noreen Daly Home Economics Teacher Hazelwood College.

Photo: Left to Right – Julia O’Doherty TY and Laura Stack 2nd Year at the Apprentice Chef Final in Institute of Technology Tralee.