With the hospitality industry crying out for more skilled chefs due to huge shortages, Lead Judge Chris Basten is urging students to enter the Country Range Student Chef Challenge 2023 to truly test themselves and ensure they have the skills and experience to fit seamlessly into a team in a professional kitchen.
Basten, who himself has taken part in and judged countless culinary competitions throughout his professional career, believes competitions such as the Country Range Student Chef Challenge are vital for aspiring chefs as they not only help make you a better planner, team player and all-round cook, but also prepare you and give you a valuable insight into life in a fast-paced kitchen.
The 2023 Challenge launched on the 1st September and is now open for entries.
Chris Basten commented:
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken part in a number of culinary competitions so I can’t speak more highly about the benefits for aspiring chefs. It’s hard to replicate what a busy kitchen is like so it can still be a big shock to students when they leave and take up their first roles. Competitions like the Country Range Student Chef Challenge give students that extra level of skill, experience, understanding, confidence and can help them hit the ground running as they embark on their careers as chefs.”
Chris Basten continued:
“It’s a real shame that our industry is facing a skills shortage because I know first-hand how rewarding a career in catering can be. Unfortunately, Brexit and the pandemic has meant the industry has lost a lot of skilled cooks so competitions such as the Country Range Student Chef Challenge are even more important now to bring through that next generation. I’d urge any student chef looking to make a name for themselves in the industry to get involved with this year’s Challenge and show future employers what they can do. Trust me, the nation’s best chefs are on the look-out so there are some fantastic opportunities out there.”
Find out more about the 2023 Country Range Student Chef Challenge
For more information on this years challenge, previous events and the registration process visit the dedicated Country Range Student Chef Challenge website.
