4th Penang Chef Challenge

This is an overdue post like for 3 months ago ady.. The PCC is held on 4th to 6th July in Penang Sports Arena (PISA)..
KDU sent 11 apprentice team and 1 professional team to the competition. My friends and I were selected to represent KDU in the junior team. We were selected by our mentor, Mr. Darren and given the name Al-Dente where our allience with the name Mirepoix. These 2 teams are from Semester 6 and we went for training about 10 times before entering the competition under Mr. Darren. Each team comprises of 4 team mates where one prepare appetizer, soup, entree and desserts.


First Day, we were the first to battle with 9 other teams. The competition are devided into 5 rounds where the first round, it is to get the highest 16 teams for second round then goes to knock-out system at the second round till the end.

This is Obala, my team soup chef.. The one who impress chefs with papaya soup!

Gareth the appetizer chef..

And the first morning, the active catfish had a party last night and all of them were on the floor when we reach therefore we found out that their main black box given will be catfish! It was true. There are black box for main ingredients, secret ingredients and every round of ingredients given are different and this is very challenging accordin to the main judges.

Our first round products.. Appetizer: pan-seared catfish topped on spaghetti aglio, chicken skewers on fruit chutney.. Tomato and carrot soup with chicken ball.. Entree, pan fried and deep fried catfish with mint durian rice and finally Dessert, Oreo baked cake with white chocolate pana cotta and seasonal fruit compote..

We got 1st in the first round among 6 teams. :3 But overall among 32 teams, we gt 6th position therefore qualify for the second round.

Listening to junior chief judge comments after round 1..

During competition.. Other teams all looking ready for their battle!

KDU PJ team in action!

Fruits and vegetables available but not all the rounds have the same ingredients.

Stock, sauces and instant dry products to enchance cookings..

Plates, shooter glass and etc for platting..

After 5 rounds of Battle in 3 days, we ended 4th and are given the semi-finalist certificate..
#1 goes to Thai Junior
#2 Singapore Junior
#3 to KDU team (Sketch)

To me, competition is not about winning or losing, it is about the strategy and heart you give in to gain what is not expected.