Last Girl Standing Erin Salutes the Country Range Student Chef Challenge

Perseverance is key for City of Glasgow College student Erin Sweeney after scooping the Country Range Student Chef Challenge title earlier this year.

Professional cookery student Erin was competing in the prestigious competition for the second year after previously entering with Glasgow Clyde College.

Not deterred or disheartened after being pipped to the crown by Ayrshire College last year, Erin was back this year with a new team, made up of Jordan McKenzie and Lee Christie, and a new college and showed the determination, skills and courage to come out on top after cooking a three-course, three-cover menu developed around the theme of ‘Around the world in three spices’.

Erin was inspired to pursue a career in the kitchen after learning to cook with her nan when she was a child and has since followed that up by studying for a HND in Professional Cookery.

She said:

“I’ve always had a love for cooking ever since I used to bake with my Nan but it was at school in home economics class that I discovered I had a talent for it. After leaving school I just knew it was the only thing I wanted to do and winning the Country Range Student Chef Challenge has proved it.”

“I don’t think you ever stop learning as a chef really but the improvement I can see in myself from just the Challenge itself has been remarkable and I would urge all college catering students to compete next year. It covers so many aspects of cooking from general skills to time management to pressure management so is a fantastic learning curve for students.”

About Country Range Student Chef Challenge: Now in its 25^th year, the annual Country Range Student Chef Challenge has become the pinnacle for full-time hospitality college students looking to develop skills and showcase their culinary prowess and creativity. To find out more about the Country Range Student Chef Challenge and to get involved next year, visit www.countryrangestudentchef.co.uk.

About Country Range: With more than 25 years of heritage servicing the UK’s innovative foodservice sector, Country Range is the leading independent foodservice brand and now offers over 800 products, all developed exclusively for professional caterers. Covering grocery, chilled, frozen and non-food, Country Range is widely recognised by caterers as a trusted and reliable brand delivering consistent quality and value for money without compromising on taste and flavour. The brand is developed and produced by the Country Range Group and is distributed exclusively by the 12 independent wholesalers that make up the Group.