Taking their skills to the world

OISIN DUKE

TOAST TO PERFECTION: Judge Steve Le Corre, from Aoraki Polytechnic, keeps an eye on chefs at the WorldSkills competition.

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Salmon and lamb was on the menu at Aoraki Polytechnic on Saturday when it hosted the Canterbury regional round of the WorldSkills cooking and restaurant service competition.

A competitor from each section advanced to the national final, which will be held in September, to select members for the Tool Blacks team to compete in the international WorldSkills competition in London in 2011.

Former Aoraki Polytechnic student Samantha-Jo Hanlin was the successful restaurant services candidate and Mark Collings was chosen to represent Canterbury in the cookery section.

Polytechnic hospitality team leader and regional cookery judge Steve Le Corre said it was great to see more entrants in both categories this year compared with two years ago, when the polytech campus last hosted the competition.

He said some of the chefs showed promising skills and were able to pinpoint areas of improvement for the future.

On the menu was a seared salmon entree with sauteed spinach and butter sauce, a rack of lamb for the main with braised potatoes and red wine rosemary jus and, to finish, a vanilla mousse with poached apples and raspberry coulis.

Each dish was chosen for the set menu to test skills such as time management, skinning and boning of fish and preparation.

Restaurant services competitors were tested on their front of house skills along with wine and spirit identification.

WorldSkills New Zealand hospitality co-ordinator Howard Osborne said the day was successful and the overall standard was very high.

"We were very pleased with the level of work they both did. It took the judges a good hour to work out who was going to win."

More than 50 countries compete in the biennial WorldSkills competition, which is described as the Olympics for vocational skills.

New Zealand competes in more than 20 skill sections, including automotive refinishing, plumbing, hairdressing and carpentry. Entrants must be under 22 years.

- © Fairfax NZ News