NZ Annual Culinary and Hospitality Champs kick off today

NZ Annual Culinary and Hospitality Champs kick off today

The rising stars of New Zealand’s culinary and hospitality scene are preparing to battle it out for gold and glory at the NZChefs National Salon today.

The annual culinary and hospitality championship event runs from Thursday 28th July until Sunday 31st July at the Logan Campbell Centre, ASB Showgrounds in Auckland.

There are competitions for all levels; from the national primary school ‘Kiwi Kids Can Cook’ event, to the Secondary Schools College Challenge and the rigorous tertiary Nestlé Toque d’Or competition. These are followed by ‘Open’ and ‘Team’ events for professional chefs, baristas, bartenders and restaurant service staff.

Over the next four days, 160 kilograms of margarine will be turned into sculptures, a tonne of NZ beef, lamb, chicken, pork, venison and salmon will be cooked and 500 kilograms of chocolate will be baked, drizzled, poured and moulded in live dessert competitions. Over 2000 plates will then need washing!

NZChefs National President Graham Hawkes says “the national hospitality competitions provide chefs and restaurant service staff with a fantastic opportunity to practice their skills, receive constructive feedback and to learn from their peers. The event also gives competitors a chance to network with industry members from all over the country, while potentially adding an award or title to their own CV’s”.

The gold medal and national title winners, including NZ Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year, Barista of the Year and Bartender of the Year, will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Logan Campbell Centre on Sunday 31st July.

This year’s international feature competition is the Gourmet Pacific Challenge where seven teams from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Guam will be competing for the Pacific Rim title. The teams, consisting of one chef and one commis chef, must prepare and present a three course ‘fine dining’ meal for six people in just three hours. The competitors will be working under the watchful eye of world renowned Swedish Chef and Guest Judge, Gert Klötzke.

Visit http://www.nzchefs.org.nz/Competitions.html for more information about the hospitality championships and the event timetable.

NZChefs National Salon

Logan Campbell Centre

ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane

28th July – 31st July, 8am – 5pm daily

Free entry

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