New Zealand Junior Hospitality Challenge - National Final

New Zealand Junior Hospitality Challenge – Congratulations to all the schools who made it to the national final of this competition, as Chief judge of this competition It was a great day with very high quality dishes coming out across the board. The kitchen floor judging was very tight with a 3 mark difference from lowest to highest (34-37). It obviously came down to the tasting judges to define the winners. I sat in and managed both sets of judges through the deliberation process in particular the tasting judges. We went back through each competitor dishes to ensure consistency and confirm the medals that were awarded, there were 3 Gold’s awarded in this class.

The judging team were fantastic and the first time judges from NSIA were fully briefed on the process prior, during and after. Thank you to all judges that helped to make this event go smooth and thank you for your time and expertise.

Judges
Kitchen: Mark, Shannon, Scott & Warwick from NSIA, Robert Haddock (AUT) and Nancye Pirini (DINE)
Restaurant: Pippa, Paul, Todd & Alex from NSIA, Cherie Freeman (MIT), Marilyn Plew (MIT), John Snowball (Spotless)

School Competitors
FOH Class:
Bronze                  Melanie Hollis, Massey High School
                              Caleigh Goodley, Ruapehu College
Silver                    David Tevita Samuelu – Southern Cross Campus
                              Daniel Serdet – Te Awamutu College
                              Emma-Jade Mechen – Heretaunga College
                              Brie Murdoch – Kerikeri High School
                              Edward Johns – Southland Boy’s High School
WINNER – Brie Murdoch – Kerikeri High School – 84 marks

Secondary Schools Challenge
Bronze                  Jazlyn Pickens & James Leefe, Long Bay College
Silver                    Hayley Neal & Ella Flutey, Otumoetai College
                              Georgina Tata & Rachael Neho, Wainuiomata High School
                              Zane Neustroski & Brenda Baucke, Southland Boys’ High School
                              Shana Paynter & Lara Philips, Aranui High School
                              Adam Robieson & Callum McPhail, Napier Boys’ High School
                              Alexandrea Palmer & Tiana Harrod, John Paul College
                              Sharna-Lee Te Waiti & Courteney Dowdall, Queens High School
Gold                     Joseph Galuvao & David Tevita Samuelu, Southern Cross Campus
                              Ella Bright-Young & Karen Ishikawa, Kerikeri High School
                              Samantha Davey & Lisa Nes, Palmerston North Girls’ High School
WINNER – Ella Bright-Young & Karen Ishikawa, Kerikeri High School – 95 marks

Also a point of interest is that Samantha Davey and Lisa Nes from Palmeston North Girls who achieved Gold in the Secondary Schools Challenge had a small set back in that one of the girls had an allergic reaction to her dinner the night before and was in A&E in Auckland until 2am.  So they still achieved gold on four hours sleep.