Medals for WelTec international student at top culinary competition

Culinary students Tyler Langerveld and An, currently studying Level five diploma in cookery, went head-to-head with hospitality students from around the country to win silver at the Auckland event. Restaurant service student Reme Barkema, who also formed part of the team, picked up a bronze medal.

An has been studying at WelTec since 2011, when she started English classes. She is thrilled to have won a medal. 

“I found the opportunity to demonstrate what I have learnt at WelTec in a pressured competition environment really exciting,” said An.

“After finishing Level five, I hope to work in a good restaurant in Wellington. Later I plan to travel to other countries to learn about their food and styles of cookery. I love food and travel.”

At the Nestlé Toque d’Or event, Tyler and Thuay An Lai battled it out for over three hours against 10 other teams from around the country to create their three-course menu which was served to guests by Reme.

The pressure was on throughout the live cook-off, as the team fought against the clock and scrutiny of top industry judges, including world-renowned chef, Gert Klotzke, of Sweden.

This competition success comes a month after Weltec’s School of Hospitality won the City & Guild’s International Centre of Excellence – Asia Pacific award, which is one of only five awards distributed globally, and two months after WelTec culinary student, Jamie Bell, was a finalist in the New Zealand Viet Nam Culinary collaboration held in Ho Chi Minh City.

City and Guilds Regional Manager for the Pacific, Glenn Fulcher said WelTec’s City and Guilds success was “an amazing achievement”.  WelTec delivers City and Guilds culinary arts, food & beverage service, hotel reception, international barista and international tourism courses, with many of its graduates gaining employment around the world.