Cambridge University Chefs Competition- live event

A very special culinary competition for chefs from the University of Cambridge and the Colleges is being planned this year to commemorate the University’s 800th Anniversary. With more classes than ever before the event, which takes place on Thursday 5 November at The Guildhall, promises to be an exciting celebration of culinary excellence with over 100 dishes on view to the public together with a live Front of House competition, where waiting staff will compete against each other by demonstrating their skill in creating fabulous table settings. New classes such as Petit Fours have been added alongside starters, mains and sweets and several others.

Chefs from Cambridge University and the Colleges were also invited to enter a Live Cookery Competition, which took place on Wednesday at Cambridge Regional College. Representing Pembroke as one of the ten competitors was Elvis 'Sasa' Williams. Below is the menu that Sasa produced.

The competitors were able to use the new state of the art cooking facilities at the newly opened Cambridge Regional Colleges Kings Hedges Campus. As you can see in the two photos below, Sasa had plenty of room and great equipment at his disposal. Each contestant was given 2 hours to prepare and serve a two course meal using products from the Major Company's range of stocks and bases. Judging the contest were representatives from Major foods, Cambridge Regional College and the University.

Sasa putting the finishing touches to his starter of citrus marinated salmon.

Pictured below are Judith Sloane from Conference Cambridge, Bill Simmonett-Catering and Conference Manager at Selwynn College and Robert Lee-Catering Manager at St Catherine's College. Conference Cambridge are helping sponsor this years competition which is greatly appreciated!

Below is a photograph of Stephen Mather- Executive Chef at Sidney Sussex College and former TUCO Chef of the Year Winner; Stephen, formally from Pembroke was a judge in this years contest.

This is a photo of Sasas' Citrus Cured Salmon with pea shoot coulis and citrus fruit.

Sasas' Roulade of Chicken wrapped in Swiss chard.

This year's contest was a big, big, success largely due to the hard work of the contests committee, and the generosity of Cambridge Regional College and our other sponsors.