Under the auspices of the Cook Islands Chefs Association, the Cook Islands Tertiary Training Institute and in conjunction with the Chaîne’s National Bailliage, the young stars of the hospitality industry showed off their talents in a keenly contested competition.

The winner was Tua Tariau from “On The Beach” at Manuia Beach Resort. He received the competition’s Gold Medal and the title “Cook Islands’ Young Chef of the Nation 2017”.

Tua now has a place booked to participate in the international final of the Chaîne’s Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition in September in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Runner-up and Silver medallist was Arana Edwards of the Pacific Resort. Jushneel Prassad from the Edgewater Resort was in Third Place. A certificate of participation went to Juita Loki of The Islander Hotel.

These young chefs know what they are doing and the respective mentors at their places of work can feel justifiably proud.

On the same day, the Bailliage held its “Young Sommelier of the Year” competition.

The winner of the Gold Medal was Franco Barquin of the Pacific Resort and this year there was a tie for second place with equal Silver Medals being awarded to Deena Paiti from The Islander Hotel and Vero Mahia from “On the Beach” at the Manuia Beach Resort.

Mereani Talbot
Chargé de Missions