GOLD, GOLD, GOLD. West Coast TAFE producing
master chefs

7 July 2009    

Whilst TV hit series “Master chef” is taking the world by storm, the West Coast Academy of Hospitality and Tourism continues to produce future master chefs with its apprentices making a clean sweep of the gold medals on offer at the Australian Culinary Federation’s 2009 WA Apprentice of the Year Competition.

“West Coast TAFE apprentices have once again stepped up to the plate and impressed judges with their creativity, attention to detail and culinary skills that are testament to the quality training they receive here at the Academy”, commented  Academy Executive Director, Patrick O’Brien.

Held on Sunday 5th July at West Coast TAFE’s Joondalup Campus, 30 finalists from around the state competed head-to-head to prepare two portions of an entree, main and dessert.

After three hours of manic activity, judges were treated with an array of high quality and innovative dishes from exhausted apprentices. After careful consideration by some of the state’s most renowned industry experts, West Coast TAFE apprentices claimed gold across all three categories (1st, 2nd and Final Year Apprentice) and made it a trifecta in the overall WA Apprentice of the Year award.

In addition to the medal winners, West Coast TAFE had another 11 apprentices competing at the event, bringing the total number to 15 out of the 30 finalists.
The superior showing at the WA Apprentice of the Year competition continues West Coast TAFE’s success in the hospitality arena having been awarded the premier Australian training provider at the WA Oceanafest’s “Restaurant of Champions Competition” in May for its training restaurant, The Pavilion.

The medal winning apprentices will form the nucleus of the West Australian team which will travel to Sydney in September to compete against fellow apprentices and industry professionals in the Sydney Culinary Challenge.

Category Winners
Gold 1st Year Apprentice – Caitlin Ellington (Joondalup Resort)
Gold 2nd Year Apprentice – Curtis Taylor (Bluewater Grill)
Gold Final Year Apprentice – Cameron Wetton (Joondalup Resort)

WA Apprentice of the Year Winners
Gold – Cameron Wettton (Joondalup Resort)
Silver (tied) – Shane Middleton (Joondalup Resort)
Bronze – Curtis Taylor (Bluewater Grill)