Ireland recently sent a Junior Team of six cookery students on an all-expenses-paid trip, to compete in the 2008 Culinary Olympics. They came home with a silver and a bronze medal, putting Ireland among the top 3 countries in the world.
This is the most important global competition for chefs, held once every four years. It took place in October 2008 in Messe Erfurt in Germany. 53 countries participated.
The team had to cook for a restaurant of 110 people in one event, called the ‘Hot Kitchen Event’ and they took home the bronze medal. In the ‘Buffet Event’, they had to design a 70 square metre buffet table incorporating a game platter, four main courses and four desserts, including a show-piece. They came second in the world in this event, winning a silver medal.
The team was selected and trained by the Panel of Chefs and sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and VHI Healthcare. Of the six students of the Irish team, four trained at DIT, one at Tourism College Killybegs (part of Letterkenny IT) and one at Galway Mayo IT.