The HTN Skills Showcase gave HTN’s apprentice chefs the opportunity to sharpen their knives and demonstrate their skills, preparing and serving a 3-course meal to almost 100 guests.
HTN apprentices at work in the kitchen
Two scholarships were awarded on the night – the HTN Peter Howard AM Culinary Scholarship and the Margaret Fulton Future Food Service Professional Scholarship. Each is designed to provide the winning apprentice the opportunity to create their own culinary adventure, learning from the world’s best with paid work experience and travel.
“The judges were very impressed with the high calibre of applicants who all performed strongly. It’s great for our industry to see such dedicated and passionate young chefs striving to be the very best”
The deserving winner of the HTN Peter Howard AM Culinary Scholarship for 2019 was Claudia Meoli, from Wentworthville Leagues Club. Claudia completed her Cert III Cookery Apprenticeship in June 2019 and has since become part of the Wenty Leagues kitchen team. Claudia’s Nonna was her inspiration to become a chef, and she plans to head to China with the prize money of $5,000.
Winner of the HTN Peter Howard AM Culinary Scholarship 2019 Claudia Meoli
The winner of the Margaret Fulton Future Food Service Professional Scholarship 2019 was Phillipa Bright from Jindabyne. With a passion for creating joy and excitement through food, Pippa shows a real talent for cakes and baking. Winning the scholarship has given Pippa the opportunity to learn from the very best in Australian cooking with paid work experience.
Guest and IntoWork Australia CEO, Poul Bottern commented, “The Skills Showcase is an exciting annual event for HTN and the judges were very impressed with the high calibre of applicants who all performed strongly. It’s great for our industry to see such dedicated and passionate young chefs striving to be the very best.”
IntoWork Australia CEO Poul Bottern addresses Skills Showcase guests
Introduced in 2019, a new award was developed to celebrate the hosts who take on the commitment to train, mentor and develop HTN apprentices. Winner of the Intowork HTN Host of the Year award for 2019 was Simon McNamara and the team from West Leagues Club, who currently host 9 apprentices.
Well done and congratulations to all award nominees, winners and apprentices who participated in the Showcase!