Professional Cookery Student Secures Second Place At International Culinary Challenge
04 April 2025
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) Level 2 Professional Cookery student, Viacheslav (Slava) Marynychenko, has secured an impressive second place at the prestigious CombiGuru Challenge, a nationwide culinary competition for UK colleges, held at the UNOX headquarters in Padua, Italy.
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) Level 2 Professional Cookery student, Viacheslav (Slava) Marynychenko, has secured an impressive second place at the prestigious CombiGuru Challenge, a nationwide culinary competition for UK colleges, held at the UNOX headquarters in Padua, Italy.
The first stage of the competition sees students get involved with an interactive, app-based challenge, climbing the virtual leaderboard by completing a series of tasks. Those who successfully complete all levels earn a coveted spot in the Oven Challenge - the live final held in Italy.
The finalists have just three hours to prepare both a main course and a dessert in the professional UNOX kitchen.
After competing against 40 other colleges and securing second place, Slava takes home a MaglioNero professional chef’s knife engraved with the competition logo, along with £500 to support his continued culinary training.
The experience will be wrapped up with a visit to the stunning city of Venice, giving Slava the opportunity to immerse himself in the Italian culture as well as having an unforgettable dining experience.
Mark Kent, Director of Professional Studies at NSCG, said: “We are so proud of Slava for his incredible performance in the competition. It’s fantastic to see how working closely with our talented catering team and chef partners has supported his development as a young chef.
“This is a fantastic achievement on an international stage and reflects not only his skill and creativity, but also his dedication and composure under pressure. We’re looking forward to seeing where his talent takes him next.”