After helping New City College triumph in the Country Range Student Chef Challenge earlier this year and then securing a place at Michelin-starred Frog in London, Maria Carbone is urging the next generation of student chefs to enter the prestigious challenge and enhance their kitchen career prospects.
Based in Stratford, London, 18-year-old Maria was one third of the talented New City College trio who wowed judges and took the Country Range Student Chef Challenge by storm in March earlier this year.
After helping New City College take the prestigious title for the first time, Maria has made the most of the triumph and plaudits that followed and secured a place in Adam Handling’s Michelin-starred restaurant Frog in September.
Student Chef Challenge 2022 Champion Maria Carbone
“It’s been an utterly amazing year with so much happening and so many positives. Competing in and winning the Country Range Student Chef Challenge was the absolute pinnacle and definitely played a big role in preparing me for not just for any professional kitchen but a Michelin-starred kitchen.”
“The competition teaches you the importance of practising, attention to detail and teamwork, while also providing a real taste of the pressure chefs are under each and every day in fast-paced kitchens. The whole experience and, of course, winning was also a huge boost to my confidence and made me realise I could succeed at the very top of the hospitality industry. For all those student chefs deliberating on whether to enter, you have to go for it as the opportunities to grow, improve and find work are endless.”
Find out more about the Country Range Student Chef Challenge
This year the Country Range Student Chef Challenge was launched on the 1st September, with the closing date for entries having been extended to the 16th December 2022.
For more information on this years challenge, previous events and the registration process visit the dedicated Country Range Student Chef Challenge website.
