Two Westminster Kingsway students through to Major Series finals following last of regional heats

Maya Krauze–Ewing and Daniel Smith, Professional Chef Diploma students are through to the final of the Major Mini Culinary Challenge after fighting off stiff competition at the third and final heat which took place at Westminster Kingsway College recently.

Maya and Daniel, both students at Westminster Kingsway College will now compete in the final of the Major Mini Series which takes places at Hospitality 2011, Birmingham.

Third year student Maya won gold in the fish class with a tuna niçoise with Polish smoked sausage, egg and chive. Maya used Major’s Honey, Lemon and Mustard Mari-Base as “the mustard worked perfectly well with the Polish sausage flavours, whilst the honey and lemon complemented the tuna perfectly.”

In his second year, Daniel won gold Best in Class in the open main course dish for
Two. Daniel’s dish was very creative – Pan fried halibut, with a fennel and dill puree, pomme galette, buttered samphire, razor clam fricassee with brunoise of red and yellow peppers, English broad beans and English split peas and a lemongrass Veloute. “I used the Major Honey, Lemon and Mustard Mari-Base to glaze the halibut because it added the acidity I needed for the dish. I liked the consistency of the marinade and the shininess it gave the fish when glazed.” Explained Daniel.

The Major Culinary Challenge and Major Series of Display Classes are organised each year by Major International in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs and are open to chefs of varying skill level from any type of foodservice operation. A range of live and static display classes showcase pastry and restaurant skills, whilst the hot live Culinary Challenge, in which contestants have just 60 minutes to prepare and cook two main meat, poultry or fish dishes using Major marinades really puts these young chefs to the test. Entrants for the competition included chefs and students from Westminster Kingsway, Grimsby Institute of Further & Higher Education, BDL Select Hotels, House of Commons and East Durham College.
Scott Lucas, co-ordinator and judge Major Series Competition and chef lecturer, City of Bristol College, said “The two winning students worked quickly and competently to create imaginative, well seasoned dishes. They chose unusual flavour combinations that worked very well together which were a little bit different – that’s what really set them apart.”
“The Major competition provides an excellent opportunity for upcoming chefs to put their skills to the test in a positive environment where the focus is on learning and development The turnout at Westminster was very high and we look forward to coming back next year for the 2011 Challenge.“
Brian Eastment, development chef for Major added “Once again, I have been impressed with the level of skill and determination shown by all the students who entered the competition.”
“Maya chose to use our Honey, Lemon and Mustard Mari-Base which provided a perfect foil to the delicate flavour of the tuna. A great choice which demonstrated Maya’s clear appreciation of the balance of flavours - anything too strong would have overpowered the fish. Daniel too was very creative and his presentation of the final dish was very impressive.”