TasTAFE Cookery student serves up another medal

TasTAFE Cookery student Lovepreet Singh was recently awarded a bronze medal at the National Culinary Student Competition in Sydney.

After bringing home the silver medal at the same competition last year, Lovepreet produced another strong performance and says his experiences competing have made him a better chef. He now plans on using his experiences to help future TasTAFE entrants.

“I can’t go back to compete again. But I know someone at Drysdale who is interested in competing next year, so maybe I will be passing on my knowledge to him. How it works and how it motivates you.”

“If you have a passion for cooking, you need to compete. It makes you a better chef and gives you more opportunities to grow.”

In 2022, Lovepreet cooked mostly Indian food in the competition. This year, he challenged himself to make more fusion cuisine in his quest for another medal.

“This time I made a traditional Mexican spinach taco with an Italian panzanella sauce and chicken tikka.”

“I practiced in the UNOX oven, which cooks the same way every time. At the competition though they had gas ovens, so I had to rotate my cooking every 15 minutes. It was very stressful, it’s not something that I planned for.”

Lovepreet, who works at Farzi in Battery Point, already had years of experience as a professional chef in his home country India before starting his training with TasTAFE. He said his teachers at Drysdale are very good at catering for difference experience levels in the kitchen.

“I was already an experienced chef when I moved here from India, but it was good to know they’re able to help students of all different experience levels. They start with the basics like how to sharpen a knife and safe work practices.”

“If it is difficult, they’ll help you out. There’s no rush, you’re not competing against anyone, this is your own race. You need to learn at your own pace.”

Lovepreet has applied to participate in next year’s World Food Championship. He’s also completing his Diploma of Hospitality Management, and already knows what he wants to do next.

“After this, I am planning to do a teaching course. Cooking is my passion and after seeing so many great teachers at TasTAFE, I’m inspired to pass on what I know too.”