Knorr Student Chef of the Year 2009

Second year student on the Advanced Certificate in Professional Cookery at Dublin Institute of Technology, Michael Fagan, has been crowned the Knorr Student Chef of the Year 2009.

This competition has been running for 12 years and is one of a number of competitions open to hospitality students, giving them the opportunity to gain a lot of recognition and win some excellent prizes.

“The standard of dishes and participants always amazes me,” says Knorr’s Executive Chef, Willie Somers, “It’s great to organise a competition that encourages students to show their flair and creativity.”

Each contestant had to make a starter and main course that included at least two Knorr products, in a two hour period.  The Portmarnock native tantalised the judging panel’s taste buds in the final (held in the brand new catering school facilities at Waterford Institute of Technology) with his tangy turbot starter which was followed by venison with red wine and chocolate sauce as a main course.

 
Competitors were marked by a judging panel - including some of Ireland’s leading chefs - on hygiene, preparation, cooking, presentation and taste.
“I’m thrilled, overwhelmed really,” Michael said. “I’d never really cooked venison before I started getting ready for this competition. I’ve practiced the dish four or five times. “I really love cooking and hope this win will help me in my career,” the student from Portmarnock added.

 
This year’s top prize was a trip to the USA to visit the world-famous International Boston Seafood Expo, which has up to 18,000 of the world’s seafood buyers and sellers attending. The trip coincides with Boston’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, so Michael  celebrated Paddy’s Day in style!

George Fister from Waterford Institute of Technology took the silver medal and Aileen Hanna, representing the Defence Forces School of Catering, was awarded the bronze medal.