CMA/NECTA Cookery Competitions 1978-2007
The Tyneside branch of The Catering Managers Association held their first cookery competition for the catering students from the local colleges in March 1978. The venue was the cafeteria at Parishes Department Store in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Five colleges were represented and the classes consisted of cold starter, cold sweet, larder and knife, skill and drill, I recall that most of the students produced food to a very good standard and were a credit to their lecturers and the colleges they represented. A very successful evening.
Parishes was a good venue, but in order to accommodate additional colleges, classes, cooking ranges, trade stands, plus a large seating area for an audience to observe the competitors at work, it was essential we move to larger premises. In the previous 24 years our competitions have been held at the Civic Centre and St James' Park, where we have achieved these objectives.
The North Eastern Culinary Trades Association was formed in 2005 and the NECTA committee took over the competition from the CMA. They introduced a two day event at the Gateshead Leisure Centre. Day one was the Inter College competition with the addition of a number of new classes. Day two saw the introduction of a competition for professional chefs from the industry demonstrating their skills with a variety of dishes culminating in the esteemed title of Chef of the Year.
I joined the Tyneside branch of the CMA in 1970 and almost immediately became a committee member. The branch gave me the honour of making me their President in 1985. I also serve on the NECTA Committee. The contribution I make to this competition is in my role as a steward. My duty is to ensure that the competitors and the judges have everything they require and change over from one class to the next runs smoothly.
I have enjoyed working with these two committees and I applaud the vision, knowledge, commitment and professionalism they bring to the event.
Jim Buchanan
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