Duo set to cook off at Culinary Fare event

Competition will be hot for UCOL Wairarapa cooks at the New Zealand Culinary fare in Auckland.

Cookery students Thomas Pepper and Cheryl-Kay Phillips will cook in the live kitchen showdowns that take place over three days from Sunday.

The competition is a step-up from the Hawkes Bay Salon Culinaire in which the pair successfully competed in May, said UCOL Wairarapa cookery lecturer Damian Peeti.

Thomas will be cooking in the Trainee Pasta class, and Cheryl-Kay will compete against industry chefs in the Open Beef class. Both have one hour to produce four identical main dishes, Mr Peeti said.

He said both Thomas and Cheryl-Kay are very keen, now they have had a "taste" of competing in a live cooking competition.

"They have been training for a couple of weeks now, so they are well on track. This event is a much bigger audience than they have ever experienced, which is great for their future pathways," he said.

Both of the young chefs are Youth Guarantee students who began study at UCOL under the government-funded scheme.

They each gained their certificate in professional cookery Level 3 last semester and were studying towards a certificate in baking and pastry level 3.

Mr Peeti also is competing in the Open Lamb class in Auckland and will serve as floor manager at the prestigious Nestle Toque d'Or competition as well.

The Toque d'Or is the country's premier student culinary and restaurant service competition.

"My role will be to observe all practical skills and competencies on the floor, from setting up, preparation and breaking down concluding the kitchen competition," he said.