Two Hazelton secondary students have earned the opportunity to go to the 19th annual Skills Canada provincial competition next month.
Ben Williams will display his command of the culinary arts and Scott Beertema will show his mastery in mechanics Apr. 17 in Abbotsford at the TradeX centre.
Williams remembers being blind-sided about participating in this year’s zone competition at the Terrace Northwest Community College campus.
“A counsellor asked me if I would like to enter two weeks before and I kinda forgot about it,” Williams recalled.
“Then it was less than a week and he asked me if I was ready and I nearly lost it.”
After the initial shock wore off, Williams resolved to go, but nearly backed out at the last minute.
“I was really nervous and didn’t know if I had enough to win,” Williams said.
Williams became interested in cooking through his older brother, who now cooks in mining camps and the time spent learning from his older sibling paid off.
Once the competition began Williams asked several questions as he went along, which made the judges take notice.
“I didn’t know where anything was in there,” Williams said.
“So I just kept asking.”
Another reason Williams stood out from the rest of the competitors was his attitude in the kitchen.
“I was singing and dancing around and having a great time,” he said.
Of course, the competition was ultimately won by the food he prepared.
He and the others had to make mushroom soup, chicken cordon bleu and a root vegetable ragu.
“I was a bit intimidated by the cook next to me,” Williams said.
“He made a cheese crisp for the garnish on his soup and sautéd his mushrooms in white wine.
And there I was with my little bowl of soup.”
“I felt that either he over did it or I didn’t do enough for mine.”
The food was judged on taste, but also presentation and his brother’s advice came in handy when it came time to plate the chicken.
“He always said to cut the chicken on an angle so it looks nice,” Williams said.
Both Williams and Beertema won out over 12 other competitors from the northwest zone to qualify for provincials.