Eurest Ireland and the Connemara Coast Hotel won the overall EduCater Awards for Hygiene Excellence at the Western Region Panel of Chefs Culinary Competitions in Galway.
The EduCater Junior Award for Hygiene Excellence was presented to Jennifer Mealy (Eurest Ireland) and the EduCater Senior Hygiene Award for Excellence was presented to Xin Sua (The Connemara Coast Hotel). A certificate of hygiene excellence was also awarded to Brendan Dunphy from the Fillet of Soul Restaurant, Manorhamilton.
Over two days, more than fifty competitors competed in live culinary competitions in Galway under the watchful eye of culinary judges and food safety specialists for the many coveted awards. The EduCater hygiene awards were based on excellence in hygiene practice demonstrated by the competitors.
Speaking at the presentation of the specially commissioned Galway Crystal Trophies, Annette Sweeney, Director, EduCater, complimented all competitors on their food safety practice and informed them that “the standard of excellence demonstrated by the award winners, was exemplary to all chefs in the industry. While working under such time restrictions and pressure, under the continuous scrutiny of the judges and in complete view of the public, these young chefs continuously implemented food safety practice to the highest level giving it equal importance to that of the ingredients and method used to produce their competition dish”.
Commenting on the awards, John Kelly, Chairman, Western Region Panel of Chefs welcomed EduCater’s involvement in this regional event and highlighted that the provision of separate awards in food safety raises the consciousness of the importance of best practice by both the competitor and all present.
The EduCater Hygiene Awards were run as part of the Western Region Panel of Chefs of Ireland ‘Celebration of Food 2004’ Event held in Galway. Competitors from all over Ireland competed in hot and cold culinary competitions as individuals and as part of a team. EduCater is Ireland’s independent food safety training materials provider.
