Saskia Leahy in the Scorched kitchen with chef James White.
By Cherie Donnellan
THIRD-YEAR apprentice Saskia Leahy is ready to scorch her competitors to prove she’s a real master chef.
The 23-year-old Torquay resident was “really proud” to be one of nine finalists in Restaurant and Catering Victoria’s 2012 Thierry Marx Career Development Award competition.
“I can’t believe I’m a finalist,” Ms Leahy said.
“I heard about the competition last year but I didn’t feel confident enough to enter (until) I worked at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival this year and a few chefs I worked with encouraged me to enter.
“I also won a second-year apprenticeship award at Gordon last year, so that gave me confidence as well.”
Ms Leahy has spent the past two years working under head chef James White’s guidance at Torquay’s Scorched restaurant.
“James is really encouraging and supportive – he’s fantastic to work for. He always encourages me to keep learning and to take opportunities like this.”
Geelong’s Mary-Jane Barca is also a finalist for her work as a first-year apprentice at Melbourne’s Crown Culinarium.
Two finalists will win a one-month internship in August to work with the award’s namesake in his Paris restaurant.
