South Downs College Students Win Army Competition
Two catering students have returned from Germany as winners of the civilian section of Exercise Rhino Caterer, the annual British Army cookery competition.
Matt Essery and Kate Edwards were accompanied by lecturer Iain Baillie for the three days of the competition, competing against over thirty teams of both military and civilian contestants. The culinary skills of all contestants were put to the test in a range of indoor and outdoor locations that simulated the environment faced by army chefs.
The teams slept in tents and used a dustbin oven to cook ingredients from an Afgan themed mystery parcel; prepared field kitchens to produce meals for twenty soldiers from ration packs and planned and prepared a dish for the judges in a live theatre cook off.
The competition was judged by a range of military and civilian representatives including Simon Rimmer from Channel f’s Sunday Brunch. The South Downs College team excelled, collecting first place awards in three out of four challenges.
Iain explained, “I am immensely proud of the effort that the students put in and we are very proud to have won the award. The experience of cooking high quality food on a piece of metal and in a dustbin buried in the ground fuelled by a temperamental wood fire was something very different for the students who normally work in state of the art kitchens at College. The high praise from military chefs who have had many years of practice was particularly rewarding.”
Kate, who will be completing her Level two cookery exams this week said, “We really enjoyed the four days, despite the early starts and late finishes! We enjoyed the friendliness of the soldiers and other competitors and are over the moon to have won! I will always remember this incredible experience. Kate intends to progress to a Level 3 Professional Cookery course at South Downs next year.
For further information, please contact Verity Bousher on 02392 794668.
