DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL, CULINARY & TOURISM
The National Cookery Skills Competition for World Skills
The National Cookery Skills Competition for World Skills Ireland took place from Wednesday to Friday, 23-25th March in the Dundalk Institute of Technology. Natalia Leane a 2nd Year Culinary Student at MTU Kerry Campus took Gold as the marks were combined after three days of intense competition. This will see Natalia join the best of Ireland’s talent and winners from over 20 other skills areas who will have the opportunity to represent Ireland at the World Skills Olympics in Shanghai 2022.
Natalia Leane from Killarney a second year student of the Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts at the Munster Technological University Kerry Campus under the guidance of Chef Lecturer Dan Browne represented the University at the Ireland skills competition in the Cookery section, and was not found lacking when she was announced as the overall winner at the awards ceremony in DKIT on Friday. Natalia reached the finals after coming through the preliminary round in January. She began practicing for this competition in October putting in the hours after college with her Chef Lecturer Dan Browne as well as working in the exceptional Restaurant ‘Kingdom 1795’ in Killorglin where she received lots of support and guidance. Over three days Natalia had to complete 5 competitive modules. These examined very specific culinary skills such as pasta making, Game butchery & cooking, Soups & Canapes, Classical Risotto, a Mystery Basket and a Dessert Module to include a handmade Puff Pastry. Overall, she completed over 15 hours of competition work. Each day she worked to specific service times for each module, delivering the food under strict conditions.
Chef Dan Browne said, “Her practice and planning were essential here in delivering the dishes on time. All dishes required a high standard of skill to produce and it became even harder when multitasking four of these dishes at once as in day 2. She was working entirely on her own over the three days preparing and cooking all dishes from start to finish.”
He added, “We are very proud of Natalia’s achievement at this competition, it provided an opportunity for Ireland’s most talented student chefs from colleges all across the country to go head-to-head in this tightly fought contest.”
IHF Crowns National Employee of the Year
Klara Vrlika a first year student on the BA in Hotel Management programme at MTU Kerry Campus and a senior receptionist at the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa, Cork, has been named the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) "National Employee of the Year". Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates and recognises the hotel team member who has made an outstanding contribution to their workplace. Fitzgerald Kane presented Vrlika with her award at the IHF's Annual Conference in Cavan.
Congratulating Vrlika and the six other nominees shortlisted for the award, Fitzgerald Kane paid tribute to the high calibre of people working within the sector, and said, "This award truly showcases the immense talent and dedication shown by hotel and guesthouse teams’ right throughout the country. Over 65,000 people are now working in the hotel sector, and the diverse and engaging roles available ensure there are fantastic opportunities to build a rewarding career. This award provides us with an opportunity to show our appreciation for the valuable contribution that hotel team members make each day in providing a world class hospitality product."
Vrlika was commended for being an integral part of her team since first joining in 2019. Her career at Inchydoney began as a receptionist and it was soon clear that she had a natural talent and warmth in dealing with guests. Less than a year later, Klara was promoted to senior receptionist and was chosen by the management team as a candidate for the three year Trainee Manager Development Programme at Munster Technological University - MTU Kerry Campus.
