On Sunday, November 4th, Loyalist Culinary Management students Geoff Kirkland, Tyanne Sim and Mackenzie Kozdas competed in Taste Canada’s Cook the Books competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.
At the event, Canadian cookbook authors mentored student chefs in a cooking program that played out on stage, in front of a live audience. The goal was to impress the panel of judges by creating a dish worthy of earning them the title of Canada’s Best New Student Chef.
Culinary students from across the country prepared dishes from Canadian cookbooks—with the author on stage. The Loyalist College team prepared chili mignon from Tina Roberts’ The Two Sisters Cookbook – 20 Family Inspired Recipes. Loyalist College Procurement Manager Audrey Mitchell, who is Tina’s sister, attended the competition.
“The competition went very well and the students were incredible,” said Chef Karin Desveaux. “Our students were strong in sanitation and technique, and the dish was stunning. Freelance Food Writer Signe Langford was particularly impressed by the professionalism of our students, as was the Taste Canada coordinator.”
At the Taste Canada Awards Gala on Monday evening, Loyalist College was recognized with an honorable mention, second to the Stratford Chefs School in Stratford, Ontario.
L-R: Chef Karin Desveaux, Author Tina Roberts, and Culinary Management students Mackenzie Kozdas, Geoff Kirkland and Tyanne Sim.
Chili Mignon from the cookbook, Two Sisters, by Tina Roberts, prepared by the Loyalist Culinary Management team.