Geelong apprentice cooks up skills win

AN APPRENTICE chef at one of Geelong’s leading restaurants has taken out this year’s round of Cookery Worldskills held on Sunday during the Gordon’s open day.
Andrew Denning, who works at Jack and Jill, won the tight competition on a count back from second placed National Hotel, Richmond, apprentice Dzung Nguyen and third placed Black Bull apprentice Daryl Tarlit.
Head competition chef Andrew Ireland said the 10 contestants had six hours to prepare a vegetarian entree, poultry main course and a duo dessert.
“Ingredients were limited which increased the level of the challenge,” Mr Ireland said.
“The students were judged on taste, presentation, their cookery skills and their professionalism within the kitchen.
“The final decision was so close we needed to do a count back.
“I’m not sure I have witnessed that level of skill in cookery competitions before, especially considering some contestants were patisserie chefs and first year apprentices.”
Strategies for Excellence patisserie students, Tiffany O’Brien and Chris Vanek won encouragement awards, receiving signed copies of Maggie Beer’s new cookbook.
Food writer Gail Thomas, founder of La Madre bakery Tony Spoljaric and hospitality expert Mary-Ellen Belleville judged the competition.