myLoyalist
Home Campus News Junior Iron Chef Competition and Food & Beverage Show

Junior Iron Chef Competition and Food & Beverage Show

February 15, 2012

Loyalist College Presents its 11th Annual Junior Iron Chef Competition and its 4th Annual Food & Beverage Show 

Loyalist College is hosting its 11th Annual Junior Iron Chef Competition and its 4th Annual Food & Beverage Show this Saturday, February 18th. The events, run by Loyalist College Culinary students, bring together the community to support tomorrow’s chefs. Sponsored by Ontario Pork Producers and Trent Valley Distributors, the events help the winning secondary school to improve its kitchen through funding and equipment.

“The Junior Iron Chef Competition was a fundamental learning experience for me when I was a student in the Loyalist Culinary Management program several years ago,” said Jay McColl, one of the judges, and a chef at East & Main Bistro and the new Pomodoro Restaurant in Wellington. “Organizing the event helped to prepare me for running a restaurant because it required several months of working with classmates on everything from menu and marketing to budgeting and regulations.”

Competing for the title of Junior Iron Chef are teams from three secondary schools, including Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI) in Picton, Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute (LCVI) in Kingston, and Ernestown Secondary School in Odessa. Each team, consisting of a few students, has been perfecting a three-course meal since the preliminary competition in September. Their menus, which cannot exceed $65, succeeded in the semi-final rounds against nine other secondary schools. 

What:   11th Annual Junior Iron Chef Competition 

4th Annual Food & Beverage Show  
When:  Saturday, February 18th 

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  
Where:   Loyalist College Campus; Kente Building Cafeteria 
Admission:   $5 at the door 

“We’re thrilled to be back in the finals after 11 years,” said Jane Pratt, Family Studies Teacher, Ernestown Secondary School. “Our success is due to the dedication of the four youths who have worked tirelessly to hone their culinary skills. They’ve learned a lot from the Loyalist Culinary students who provided feedback and recommendations. Working in the College kitchens has allowed our team to experiment in a restaurant style environment, rather than just using the electric stoves we have in the classroom.”

The Food & Beverage Show will feature food demonstrations, free food samples, Club 213 & Loyalist Market, The Spa at Loyalist, and several local restaurants and wineries.

– 30 –

To schedule an interview or confirm media attendance at the event, please contact: Kerry Lorimer, Media Relations Specialist, Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536.

Categories: