Grimsby’s promising culinary student, Tia Welsh, recently returned from a captivating gastronomic journey. Representing the Grimsby Institute at a high-ranking cooking contest in Venice, Italy, she stunned with her impressive talent. As a Level 2 Professional Cookery Diploma student, Tia secured fourth place in the esteemed Combi Guru Challenge, a contest that saw over 220 colleges take part. From the pool of 40 finalists from throughout the UK, Tia shone brightly, impressing judges with her signature dish – rack of lamb. She narrowly missed the third-place position by just 1.5 points.
The competition was organised by Unox, a prominent commercial oven manufacturer, testing competitors’ abilities to cook a main dish and dessert within a stringent three-hour timeframe. Zack Feve, the Hospitality Programme Leader, praised Tia’s commendable efforts and underscored Unox’s instrumental contribution to advancements in culinary technology.
Beyond the confines of the kitchen, Tia relished the cultural treasures of Venice. Highlights of her trip included a visit to St Mark’s Square, a dining experience at the acclaimed La Prosciutteria, and a thrilling speedboat ride as part of her journey. Reflecting on her experience, Tia expressed profound gratitude to the Grimsby Institute for this exceptional opportunity. She labelled the experience as a ‘once in a lifetime’ event, which has substantially benefitted her culinary expertise.
This story was adapted from original reporting by grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
