18/06/2026
Ara Students Strike Gold at Trainee Chef of the Year 2026
Congratulations to Katherine and Phoebe
Two students from Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Southern Campus in Timaru have achieved outstanding success at the Trainee Chef of the Year competition, winning two of the six gold medals on offer.
Katherine Bell and Phoebe Wickham, both students in Wally Katene’s class, demonstrated exceptional skill, precision, and creativity throughout the competition.
Open to students of all ages enrolled in secondary or tertiary training, or studying towards recognised Level 3, 4, or 5 cookery qualifications, the competition is designed to test both fundamental techniques and practical application in a live kitchen environment.
The event is divided into two stages. In the first, competitors must showcase their technical ability by completing a series of core kitchen skills. Building on this, the second stage requires them to use the ingredients prepared earlier to create two individually plated main course dishes, following standardised recipes and featuring Akaroa salmon.
Participants were judged across a range of criteria, including technical skill, hygiene and cleanliness, ability to follow recipes, flavour, and presentation.
All competitors received a certificate and a goodie bag featuring products and equipment from event sponsors, including Akaroa Salmon, Catering Hardware, Barkers Professional, Bidfood, and Ara Institute of Canterbury. Medals were awarded to those who achieved the required standard.
The success of Katherine and Phoebe highlights the high standard of training at Ara and reflects their dedication and talent as emerging chefs.
