Top colleges triumph in Cambridge Culinary Competition

The winners celebrate

The winners of the Cambridge Culinary Competition 2009 have been revealed at a recent awards ceremony held at Cripps Court, Magdalene College.

For the third year running, the Stewards' Cup, awarded to the highest scoring team, went to Sidney Sussex College.

Participants in the eight individual food classes were awarded marks by each judge at the session held at the Guildhall on 5th November, which added together gave their final position in the class.

There was also a class for Front of House staff who had to create table settings for a specific menu and a Live Cookery class held at Cambridge Regional College in October.

Sidney Sussex College collected three Firsts (in the Under 21's, Afternoon Tea Cakes and Petits Fours classes), Emmanuel College two Firsts (Hot Main Course and Hot Vegetarian classes) and Madingley Hall two firsts (Canapés and Cold Starter classes).

Firsts also went to Queen's College (Live Cookery Competition), St Catherine's College (Cold Sweets) and Christ's College (Front of House).

In addition, there were prizes for Piotr Porada, Murray Edwards College for Best Newcomer and for Nigel Tumber, Sidney Sussex College for Best in Show.

Kelly Vickers, manager of Conference Cambridge and one of the organisers of this year's competition said: "We wanted the 2009 Culinary Competition to be extra special as it is Cambridge University's 800th Anniversary - and so it has been!

"We had a record number of entries, the standards were higher than ever before and everyone involved has been impressed by the creativity and skill of all those taking part. Congratulations to all the winners - and to everyone who too part for their time and commitment in making this the special competition we wanted it to be. We are also grateful to our generous sponsors for their support."

Judging was carried out by a team of professionals from the catering and hospitality industry led by Peter Griffiths, MBE, Salon Director, Hotelympia.

Words: Maria Bracken

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