Local students put on their chef hats

By Kristen Oelschlagel.

Becoming the Next Iron Chef could be a dream come true for those in the culinary industry. Now some local high school students have the chance to be one step closer to that dream.

The Junior Iron Chef competition, put on by second-year culinary management students from Loyalist College, is a chance for high school students to show off their culinary skills in a competitive environment.

Margaret Beaumaster, the faculty member in charge of the competition, said it’s a great experience for high school students even if they don’t end up in the culinary field.

“It’s a competition, they train for it like a sport. It promotes team and group camaraderie, as well as a love of food,” Beaumaster said.

The idea, which was introduced 12 years ago, was designed as a project for the culinary students’ event management class. Teams of four students from area high schools will cook a three-course meal for judges in hopes to become the next Junior Iron Chef.

Cooks have two hours in the Club 213 kitchen at the college to prepare their three plates while sticking to specific guidelines, such as no pre-made or prepackaged foods. There are prizes for the teams in first, second and third place.

The culinary management students plan every aspect of the competition.

Aundrea Hubble, a second year culinary management student, is in charge of the food group that makes up the menu for the finalist dinner. She said planning the event helps teach them the skills they can’t learn in the classroom.

“It teaches us a lot of management skills, how to manage a team and event and how to work together even though we have different personalities,” Hubble said.

The semi-finals for the competition are being held January 26. The final round will happen simultaneously with the Food and Beverage Show at Loyalist College on February 16. A live feed of the competition will be played in the cafeteria that day.