Gold in Culinary Arts at the Nordic Student Competition in Oslo
The Nordic student competition took place in Oslo on 21 and 22 April.
The competitors from Iceland were culinary apprentices Hinrik Örn Halldórsson and Marteinn Rastrick from LUX veitingar. In the waiting competition, the competitors were Finnur Gauti Vilhelmsson, an apprentice at Vox Brasserie, and Benedikt E. Birnuson, an apprentice at Matarkjallarinn. The culinary apprentices were coached by Gabríel Kristinn Bjarnason, and Axel Árni Herbertsson coached the waiting apprentices.
Hinrik Örn and Marteinn won gold medals in the culinary competition, and the waiting apprentices placed fourth. The waiting competition was very close, with only a few points separating the top places.
The theme of the competition was “Building on Tradition,” and one of the tasks for the culinary apprentices, for example, was to prepare “fårikål,” a traditional Norwegian dish, while the waiting apprentices prepared and served beef tartare to the guests.
On the first day of the competition, the culinary apprentices prepared three dishes, and the waiting apprentices competed in setting a table for two, pairing drinks with the dishes on the menu, wine tasting, and cocktail mixing. On the second day, the competitors worked with a “Mystery Basket” composed of a variety of ingredients. The task was to prepare and serve a five-course menu. The waiting apprentices set up a banquet table for six with table decorations, paired drinks with the dishes on the menu, and competed in professional service and serving of the dishes.
The Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF) and the Icelandic Food and Restaurant Association (MATVÍS) organize the competition with support from the Iðan Education Centre. In the culinary competition, Iceland took first place, Sweden second, and Denmark third. In the waiting competition, Finland took first place, Denmark second, and Norway third.
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