| Fadley Faisal |
MOHAMMAD Nazim bin Haji Zainal Abidin, a second-year Brunei student at Taylor’s University in Malaysia, yesterday bagged the bronze medal in the Individual Class’ Hot Cooking, Meat/Poultry Main Course (Western Cuisine) Category of the Culinaire Malaysia 2017 competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Held in conjunction with the Food & Hotel Malaysia (FHM) 2017 exhibition from September 26 to 29, Culinaire Malaysia aims to set new benchmarks in the international culinary industry with over 1,500 entries and an assemblage of more than 1,000 culinary professionals, where only the top chefs from each participating organisation compete with each other for the gold.
Based on his academic achievements during his first year at Taylor’s University, followed by a successful interview, Mohammad Nazim, 26, was one of the few students selected to compete in the major competition.
However, being ineligible for the Apprentice Class category, due to restrictions on competitors under 25, Mohammad Nazim competed at the industry level along with top chefs from organisations such as Grand Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental and Hilton.
Competitors were judged according to four main criteria: mise-en-place and cleanliness; presentation or innovation; correct professional preparation and service; and taste.
During two months of intensive training under Chef Sharizan Azali bin Mohamed Zamzuri, Mohammad Nazim learnt how to prepare one main course dish of beef, lamb, chicken or duck for two on individual plates, and present it within 45 minutes.
His final serving was ‘Pan Seared Lamb Loin, au Gratin of Duo Potato, Rillette of Lamb Berny, garlic puree, sauteed and confit vegetables with mint – Lamb au Jus.’
With less than two years to go before completing his Bachelors of Culinary Arts and Food Service Management (Hons), a degree with dual recognition and certification by Taylor’s University and the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, Mohammad Nazim aspires to become one of the top chefs in Asia and share his culinary vision to help raise the standards of the food and beverage industry in Brunei Darussalam.
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