A team of hospitality and catering students from the Downpatrick Campus of South Eastern Regional College (SERC) are celebrating after winning a host of medals and awards at the prestigious hospitality trade show, IFEX Chef Skills 2018, which took place at the Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast.
Local students from SERC’s school of hospitality, management, tourism and languages took part in the grilling three-day competition which featured students from the College’s full and part-time professional cookery, catering and hospitality courses.
The IFEX exhibition is Northern Ireland’s premier showcase of the latest food and drink products, catering equipment, interiors, technology and services to the food, retail and hospitality industries.
The students took part in a variety of competitions at the show and impressed judges with their technical skills and creativity to walk away with multiple gold, silver, bronze and merit awards.
In the Student Culinarian of the Year competition, 20-year-old catering trainee Eoin Gallagher from Castlewellan who studies at the Downpatrick Campus took home a certificate of participation. While Darren Boyle from Newcastle was awarded a certificate of merit.
In the Junior Duck category 24-year-old catering apprentice Adam Thompson from Killinchy was awarded a certificate of merit. In the Junior Poultry competition Andrew Bradford from Newcastle won a bronze medal.
SERC Principal and Chief Executive Ken Webb commented: “The competition was an excellent opportunity for our students to demonstrate the high level of skills they have learnt during their studies.
“For students and staff to compete so successfully, to such a high standard, is outstanding. This level of success illustrates the quality of education and training on offer within SERC and showcases how talented our students really are.”
