On Friday 04 September 2009, Waiariki Institute of Technology hosted the Hospitality Standards Institute competition for aspiring chefs.  This competition was open to all secondary school students in the Bay of Plenty.   For the individual food category students had to prepare a dish comprising one of the following food groups - Salmon, Minced Pork, Pasta or Omelette.  Two of our WHHS students also entered the team category and were asked to prepare an entrée (x4 portions) and main (x4 portions), containing vegetables.

Lewis McGlynn 12YB competed in the individual category, preparing a poached salmon in tomato juice and oil, spinach spaetzle and balsamic tomatoes with a jalapeno hollandaise and avocado oil.  Lewis gained a silver medal for his dish, which was the highest given mark in this category.

Haley Buckley 12JW competed in the individual category, preparing coriander and lime infused pork dumplings, with Soba noodles, blanched Shanghai and mushroom, with a sweet soy plum sauce to garnish.  Haley gained a silver medal for her dish, which was also the highest given mark in this category.

Haley and Lewis competed as a team representing Western Heights High School.  The entrée had to have the main component as carrot, so our team prepared a carrot and spinach fitter sitting on blanched carrot shreds with a carrot and orange juice reduction.

The main course had to consist of at least three New Zealand grown vegetables, one of which had to be Starch.  Haley and Lewis prepared a dish of sticky maple ribs with apple and bacon stuffed pork loin, warm red cabbage salad with zucchini and charred pineapple, with a parsnip and vanilla pod puree and parsnip chips, finished with a warm jus.  Our team was awarded with a bronze medal, this was the second highest award in this category.

Harriet Adlam 11GW also competed and came away with a bronze medal in the Pork section.

All three students are very keen to compete again next year.  Congratulations on your achievements.