NYP’s first ever Gold medals 🥇 in the Cooking skill area at WorldSkills Singapore and WorldSkills ASEAN 2023
Leonard Chia, a graduate of the Diploma in Food & Beverage Business, brought home NYP’s first-ever Gold medals in the local and regional level competitions that affirm young talents and their abilities in various skill categories.
Leonard with his coaches on the WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 stage
Leonard believes that food creativity must come from the heart, and spent some 1,000 hours over 4 intensive months to hone his skills and perfect his dishes. And the jury was wowed over!
At the WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 competitions, Leonard demonstrated his ingenity and skills through three test categories for the same Cooking Skills category – Afternoon Tea, Casual Dining and Fine Dining. Each category posed its unique challenges, with mandatory ingredients dictating the boundaries within which contestants could unleash their culinary prowess.
Despite these constraints, Leonard demonstrated his ingenuity and skill, crafting dishes that exceeded the judges' expectations.
Pumpkin Ginger Pie and Cheese Slider (Left), Leonard with Hors' D Oeuvres
Leonard tantalised the judges' taste buds with Pumpkin Ginger Pie and Cheese Slider in the Afternoon Tea category, reflecting his understanding of flavour balance and presentation.
Saffron Velouté with Sea Bass (left) and Tomato Gnocchi with Assorted Seafood (right)
Potato Leek Soup with Saffron Souffle and Poached Chicken with Jus (left), Deconstructed Black Forest (right).
He demonstrated his mastery of technique and finesse across categories – from Saffron Velouté with Sea Bass and Tomato Gnocchi with Assorted Seafood for casual dining, to Potato Leek Soup with Saffron Souffle and Poached Chicken with Jus for fine dining. Leonard then wrapped up his presentation sweetly with Deconstructed Black Forest.
Leonard's ability to marry diverse ingredients into a harmonious symphony of flavours truly showcased his culinary artistry, and his innovative approach brought him NYP's first gold medal in the Cooking category.
Participating in WorldSkills ASEAN was a transformative experience for Leonard. He is grateful for the unwavering support of his team of coaches, whose guidance he acknowledges as invaluable on his journey. This experience has also ignited a newfound inspiration in Leonard to further hone his culinary skills and meet international standards.
Leonard's triumph at WorldSkills ASEAN not only celebrates his individual talent but also underscores the caliber of culinary education at NYP. As he paves the way for future generations of aspiring chefs, his journey stands as a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and dedication in the pursuit of culinary excellence.
