March 2025
Students and apprentices bag nine medal haul at mammoth culinary competition
By Claire Huggins
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Just one Cornetto…cocktail and a whole heap of hard work was what it took to come away with a multi-medal haul from the International Salon Culinaire at Excel London. Nine silver medals. Three gold medals. One big competition.
Forming part of the Hotel and Restaurant Catering Show and held over 17-19 March, the competition gave eight University College Birmingham student chefs the chance to showcase their skills in a live, high-stakes competition environment.
Right in at the deep end in the first round of heats, seven student chefs came away with silver medals and one, Sam Bull, with gold.
On top of this, food and beverage students Jessica Gibson and Ellis Clarke landed two golds and a silver from their three disciplines, with an unforgettable ‘Cornetto’ cocktail taking centre stage.
Accompanying the students at the show were the University’s chef lecturer Richard Dutton, food and beverage lecturer Joe Tabberer and apprenticeships manager Stuart Wildsmith.
“There was stiff competition right across the board, so coming away with nine silver medals and three golds was a huge success,” said Stuart.
“It was a long day for everyone involved, but the competitors learn so much about organisation, commitment and teamwork in the real world, so it was worth all the hard work.
“We had so many positive comments about the standard of the competitors and the exemplary behaviour of all our students and apprentices. We couldn’t be prouder of our students’ and apprentices’ achievements.”
Find out more about our chef and food and beverage college and degree courses and apprenticeships.
Congratulations to our medallists!
- Gold medallists
Sam Bull
Ellis Clarke
Jessica Gibson - Silver medallists
Sam Bull
Ellie Blount
Ellis Clarke
Gabriella Constantinou
Chloe Kemp
Tommy Kings (2)
Ivo Roy (2)
Pictured in the banner: Sam Bull, Ellie Blount, Ellis Clarke, Gabriella Constantinou, Richard Dutton, Jessica Gibson, Chloe Kemp, Tommy Kings, Ivo Roy, Joe Tabberer and Stuart Wildsmith
"We had so many positive comments about the standard of the competitors and the exemplary behaviour of all our students and apprentices."
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