Returning home to Grafton, carrying Silver, has local Trainee Chef Lachlan Alexander on top of the world.

Lachlan was one of two young Grafton chefs who travelled to Sydney’s Ryde TAFE, to compete in the HTN Apprentice Chef Culinary Convention recently, which attracted contestants from across NSW, and even some from Canberra and Melbourne.

 “It was a great experience, being my first ever cooking competition, but all the time I spent preparing and practicing has really paid off, as I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I would be”, Lachlan said.
“I was competing against 12 other 1st year chefs from across the state, and to place second is just awesome”, Lachlan added.

Lachlan, a School-Based Trainee, and also studying for his HSC at South Grafton High, was accompanied by second year apprentice Chef Kristi-Lee Saunders.  Kristi-Lee scored a very creditable 8th place against other second year apprentices from across the state.

Lachlan and Kristi-Lee both work at Victorias Restaurant at the Quality Inn, and study at North Coast TAFE’s Grafton Campus Manager, Leon Perkins said, “They have both done extremely well in the competition, and Lachlan’s second placing is a great reward for the effort he has put in, and committing to extra hours of practice”.

The annual competition is open to apprentice chefs from across Australia, and each level is designed to test competitors according to their year in the trade.