Aspiring chefs take on Ireland’s elite

Aspiring chefs Ciaran Cush and Samantha Freeney are to compete at Northern Ireland’s influential IFEX ChefSkill competition on behalf of Barnardo’s Northern Ireland.

Ciaran and Samantha both aged 17, from Belfast, have gained their certificate in Essential Food Hygiene and Health and Safety and are currently studying NVQ level 2 in catering at Dr. B’s Kitchen, in Bridge Street, Belfast, a city centre café run by the children’s charity.

Ciaran and Samantha will take their place centre stage tomorrow in front of the judges and more than 200 people from the hospitality industry to pit their skills against others in the new ‘chef ability award’ class. This is the first time that this particular category of competition has been at IFEX. Its introduction means young people with learning disabilities now get a chance for recognition of their talents too.

Entrants are required to cook a two course meal in one hour. Although both young chefs are already practising hard for the big day, their imaginative menus remain a secret.

Ciaran said: “It’ll be good to be able to prove myself. To win would not just make me happy, but everybody at Dr. B’s. It’s not just about me, it’s about everybody here.”

Samantha is looking forward to the whole event, she said “Although I’ll be concentrating on my own event it’s a great chance for me to see Ireland’s top chefs in action and to see all the exhibitors.”