Derry student chef awarded Favourit bursary

PICTURED ABOVE: Ella Freeman, GM Marketing Commercial Marketing Manager, Nia Ward-Gallagher, winning student of £1,000 bursary from Favourit, Gerard McAdorey, Owner and  Managing Director at GM Marketing and Robert McKenna, Associate Head of Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management at Ulster University.

Favourit, Ireland’s oldest and most trusted supplier of premium herbs, spices, and seasonings, has created a bursary aimed at inspiring the next generation of culinary leaders.

The Belfast-based herbs and spices brand is celebrating its 110th anniversary by recognising the talents of Ulster University students, two of whom take home an equal share of a specially created bursary worth £2,000.

Nia Ward-Gallagher from Derry and Alex Saniya Maria from Kerala, India, were revealed at a special dinner held at Ulster University’s renowned Academy Restaurant recently (April 10).

They both took home a £1,000 bursary which was awarded for their impressive use of Favourit products and their exceptional culinary creations. The bursaries are intended to support their ongoing culinary education and inspire them to pursue further opportunities in the food industry

Ella Freeman, Commercial Marketing Manager, Favourit, said: “We wanted to mark this year by helping to inspire the next generation of young chefs, so we joined forces with Ulster University’s BSc Culinary Arts Management course which tasked twelve students to create a bespoke Favourit-inspired menu.”

Ella Freeman, continued: “We held our 110th Favourit anniversary event at the stunning Academy Restaurant where over 50 invited guests - including trade customers, media, Ulster University personnel and GM Marketing colleagues - enjoyed a sumptuous meal prepared by the Ulster University’s BSc culinary arts management students.”

As part of the collaboration, students were challenged to create a full menu: starter, main course, and dessert, incorporating Favourit’s premium herbs, spices, and seasonings. Their dishes were judged on creativity, innovation, and culinary execution, and the two highest-scoring students were awarded bursaries to further their culinary careers.

“Due to a very high standard, the decision was made to award a £1,000 bursary to each of the two outstanding students. However, all twelve students used the whole range of Favourit herbs and spices to create some truly inspired dishes which showcased their talents and local produce to its fullest.”, said Ella.

Professor Ioannis S. Pantelidis, Head of the Department of Hospitality Tourism and Events Management, at Ulster University Business School, said: “The creativity, dedication, and passion these students demonstrated was truly inspiring. We’re proud of winners Nia and Alex who benefit from the generosity of Favourit and we look forward to seeing where their culinary journeys take them.

“The partnership with Favourit has given our students a unique chance to work with top-quality ingredients, explore new flavour combinations and apply their research, knowledge and creativity in a real-world setting.

"This initiative also highlights the power of supporting local business and the incredible outcomes that emerge when education and industry come together – celebrating talent, sparking innovating and paving the way for the next generation of professionals.  It’s been fantastic to see how the students have applied their knowledge and creativity, and we are all excited to see their future successes.”