All prepped up and ready to cook

GET COOKING: Sophia Zanoli (front) with Junita O'Dea (left) and Grace Bruere are busy preparing. PHOTO BEN FRASER

The knives are out as three Waiariki Institute of Technology students prepare to compete on the national culinary stage.

Sophia Zanoli, Grace Bruere and Junita O'Dea came out on top during an in-house cooking competition at Mokoia campus and are now preparing to compete at the 2015 Nestle Toque d'Or competition.

Toque d'Or is in its 25th year and is described as New Zealand's premier and most prestigious student chef and restaurant service competition.

Teams consist of two cookery students and a restaurant service student.

They are expected to cook and serve six plates of a petite salad and three-course meal within a fixed timeframe.

A panel of industry professionals will judge the competition and this year they will be led by chief judge Darren Wright.

Waiariki chef tutor and team manager Jonathan Chemis said he had been watching the students for more than 12 months.

"I've been keeping track of the students who I thought would be good for this competition and when it came down to selecting our three competitors, these girls really shone.

"The team gels together well, which is so important when you're in a high-pressure situation in a small kitchen. Grace is really fast and efficient at getting things out while Sophia is comfortable taking the lead and making sure the process runs smoothly and to time.

"Junita also works really well with the two chefs and is great as a front of house person."

He said leading up the the competition, the team of three would be putting in hours of prep.

"As part of the criteria, we had to use salmon in the entree, beef in the main and Nestle products for dessert. With that, we created a menu that the girls helped form based on their strengths and weaknesses in the kitchen."

Miss Zanoli said they were feeling nervous but were looking forward to the competition.

"We have never done this competition before so it is a little overwhelming, but it's highly regarded so will look really good on our CVs.

"We are all working in the industry as well. So hopefully that will give us an edge against other teams as we have worked in high-pressure environments before."

The competition takes place on July 30 at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland. The winning team and their establishment will receive a travel prize.