Patisserie Students Impress Industry Judges in Kingsway Campus Competition
Our Patisserie and Confectionery students recently took part in a five-week baking competition, where they were challenged to plan, create and deliver a themed afternoon tea experience at the Taste Bar on our Kingsway Campus.
Working individually or in pairs, students put the creativity, baking and culinary skills they had developed throughout the year to the test. The competition was sponsored and judged by the Bakers Trade of Dundee, providing students with valuable industry feedback and recognition.
Participants were assessed on a range of criteria, including presentation and visual appeal, creativity and theme execution, food quality, menu variety, service and professionalism as well as the overall customer experience.
The winner of the competition was Nina Watson for her Cocktails and Antipasti theme, with 2nd place being achieved by Courtney Easton and Samuel Gardiner for their Spring in Bloom theme and 3rd place going to Nataliia Sakhnovska and Adam Skinner.
The winners received cash prizes of £100, £70 and £50 respectively at the Hospitality and Professional Cookery department's end-of-year celebration. The awards were presented by Martin Goodfellow and Alex Garty from the Bakers Trade of Dundee.
Alex Garty, who has sampled professional afternoon teas across the UK, praised the winning entry, saying:
“Nina’s afternoon tea set the bar – it wouldn’t be out of place at somewhere like the Balmoral.”
The competition highlighted the exceptional talent within our Patisserie and Confectionery course and gave students the opportunity to showcase their skills in a realistic industry environment. Congratulations to all those who took part, and thank you to the Bakers Trade of Dundee for their continued support in helping to inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals.
