"Wirtshaus Battle"

Young apprentices show off their skills in competition

Wirtshaus Battle - Young Talents, from left to right: Jonas Scheurer - Triad, Delia Vulpe - Triad, David Schneeberger - Gasthaus Nährer, Philip Taborsky - Landgasthof Bachlerhof, Stefan Bierschok - Goldenes Bründl, David Wieland - HUEBER der Wirt in Bründl

(Bild: Imre Antal)

Local gastronomy professionals demonstrated their great skills in the kitchen and service at the "Wirtshauskultur" apprentice competition. Six young talents were delighted to receive "golden awards".

The Lower Austrian Restaurant Culture Apprentice Competition was held for the 15th time at the tourism school in Krems, where the achievements of 21 young talents were scrutinized. In the service category, the seven participating apprentices put their serving skills to the test. Theoretical and practical knowledge about the food and drinks served was also tested. An expert jury also assessed the table decorations, interaction with guests, complaint management, beer tapping and coffee preparation. The young people in their 3rd and 4th year of training had to mix a cocktail of their own creation.

The junior chefs, on the other hand, were already wielding pots and pans in the morning. The participants from the 2nd year of apprenticeship conjured up a starter and an intermediate dish, while the older ones were responsible for an intermediate dish and a main course. The creations were then served to a 5-member jury.

Great awards
In the afternoon, the time had come: the best apprentices were chosen. Gold in the service category went to Delia Vulpe from Restaurant Triad in Bad Schönau (Wiener Neustadt district) and David Schneeberger from Gasthaus Nährer in Rassing (St. Pölten district). Both are in their 1st/2nd year of apprenticeship. The Triad was delighted to receive another gold award: Jonas Scheurer scored in the service category in the 3rd/4th year of his apprenticeship.

In the kitchen, David Wieland from Lokal Hueber in Bründl (district of Scheibbs) won gold in the 1st year of apprenticeship, Philip Taborsky from Landgasthof Bachlerhof in Kematen an der Ybbs (district of Amstetten) in the 2nd year of apprenticeship and Stefan Bierschok from Goldenen Bründl in Oberrohrbach (district of Korneuburg) in the 3rd/4th year of apprenticeship.

Stefan Bierschok is already an "old hand". This is the third time he has taken part in the "Wirtshaus Battle". Unlike some of his colleagues, the 19-year-old's nervousness was therefore limited. And after the competition? "Celebrate, sleep and then back to vocational school," said the gastronomy professionals of tomorrow.