October 19, 2012
Gold and silver for NAIT students at Culinary Olympics
Culinary Team NAIT has returned from the 2012 IKA World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany, with two gold and two silver medals. The Culinary Olympics is the world’s largest exhibition of culinary arts.
“The competition was fierce, but the team worked hard, and it shows in the results,” said Vinod Varshney, coach and manager of Culinary Team NAIT. “I’m very proud of our team’s performance. This is the highest level of international competition any chef can compete at.”
The team’s four members – second-year students in NAIT’s Culinary Arts program - each captured medals, beating out professional chefs from around the world.
Ashley Broad and Francis Flores won gold in their competition, where they each prepared “festive platters” for eight, as well as six individual appetizers. Jayden Kresnyak and Phillip Robidoux won silver in their competition, where they each prepared four individual entrees, restaurant platters for two and three-course luncheon menus. The food was judged on a number of criteria, including innovation, composition, preparation and presentation.
Meanwhile, Culinary Team Alberta won Gold at the Culinary Olympics and were ranked second overall at the international competition. Three of the team’s five members are NAIT alumni. Varshney, who also manages Culinary Team Alberta, said being part of Culinary Team NAIT is often a stepping stone to the provincial team, which is made up of professional chefs.
The 2012 IKA World Culinary Olympics was held Oct. 5 – 10. The prestigious event – which happens every four years - dates back to 1900, and is the world’s largest culinary competition. The students returned to NAIT this week.
About NAIT
NAIT is one of Canada’s leading polytechnics, with almost 80,000 registrations worldwide in key areas including science, technology and the environment, business, health and trades. Known for real-world education and student success, NAIT also engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world. NAIT enrolled its first students - 29 communication electrician apprentices - in 1962 and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.
For more information, please contact:
Vinod Varshney
Coach and manager – Culinary Team NAIT
P 780.471.8681 E vinodv@nait.ca
Frank Landry
NAIT Media Relations
P 780.471.8450 C 780.916.8307 E flandry@nait.ca