{"id":1481,"date":"2013-11-20T15:44:32","date_gmt":"2013-11-20T15:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/?p=1481"},"modified":"2026-08-14T22:09:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T21:09:04","slug":"davitt-college-castlebar-transition-year-student-all-ireland-home-cook-hero-finalist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davittcollege.ie\/dev\/davitt-college-castlebar-transition-year-student-all-ireland-home-cook-hero-finalist\/","title":{"rendered":"Transition Year Student Maria Named All-Ireland Home-Cook Hero Finalist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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\n \n 🧑‍🍳 Culinary Arts \u2022 National Finalist\n <\/span>\n

\n Transition Year Student Maria Named All-Ireland Home-Cook Hero Finalist\n <\/h2>\n

\n 20 November 2013 \u2022 Davitt College Castlebar\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n Davitt College, Castlebar, extends its massive congratulations to Transition Year student Maria, who achieved national recognition by becoming a finalist in the prestigious Easy Food Home-Cook Hero Awards 2013<\/strong>.\n <\/p>\n

\n Run by Ireland\u2019s number-one food magazine, Easy Food<\/em>, this national cookery competition is open to all ages. The 2013 event was the most highly contested and popular year to date, drawing thousands of entries from across the country. Only three finalists were selected for each of the ten categories based on their unique, tasty, and creative recipes.\n <\/p>\n

\n Maria was chosen to compete in the highly competitive La Scala<\/em> category, where she was the only student matching skills against two seasoned adult cooks\u2014a previous category winner and a professional food blogger.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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🍳 The Dublin Cook-Off Final<\/h3>\n

\n On Saturday, 9th November 2013, Maria travelled to Dublin to take part in a high-pressure live cook-off final at the Cooks Academy Cookery School. She prepared her signature dish under the watchful eyes of a distinguished panel of celebrity judges:\n <\/p>\n

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\n Kevin Dundon<\/strong>\n Dunbrody House<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Catherine Fulvio<\/strong>\n Ballyknocken House<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Gina Miltiadou<\/strong>\n Zahra Media Group<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n The high-octane environment was captured by TV3 cameras, recording the skills of the finalists for a special television broadcast hosted by Martin King at the Shelbourne Hotel, which aired nationally on Saturday, 16th November 2013.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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🧑‍🍳 Future in the Culinary Arts<\/h3>\n

\n Maria, a passionate Home Economics student, is keen to pursue a career in the Culinary Arts after finishing her studies at Davitt College. As a testament to her talent, she will complete her Transition Year work experience module under the mentorship of renowned TV Chef Neven Maguire at MacNean House & Restaurant in Co. Cavan.\n <\/p>\n\n \n

\n “I was very excited to be chosen to compete in this National Competition. The standard was very high and it was great to see other contestants’ interpretations of their dishes. It was also great to work alongside chefs Kevin Dundon and Catherine Fulvio. The competition gave me great experience and was a fantastic opportunity.”
\n \u2014 Maria, Transition Year Student<\/strong>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
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📈 Continued Excellence in Home Economics<\/h3>\n

\n This incredible achievement marks the second major success for the Davitt College Home Economics Department in recent months, following past pupil Laura Ivers’ overall victory at the Sligo Connacht Gold Cookery Competition.\n <\/p>\n

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\n Academic Milestone:<\/strong> In 2013, 100%<\/strong> of our Junior Certificate Home Economics students took the Higher Level paper, with final examination results far exceeding the national average.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n \n \"Maria\n <\/a>\n \n \n
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\n Culinary Finalist:<\/strong> Davitt College Transition Year student Maria, recognized nationally at the Easy Food Home-Cook Hero Awards live cook-off in Dublin.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n