A final year student at the Institute of Hotel Management, Bombay pursuing her graduation in hospitality and hotel administration, Rukhshana Purvez Patel was among the six students chosen to represent her college at the Californian Prunes and Calpro Foods Culinary Challenge Trophy 2004 held in Delhi. Competing against 42 institutes from all over India at the Banarasidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management, Patel and her teammate won the runners up trophy, silver medal and certificate for their efforts, mentions a family source. Each team was judged on its originality at cake decoration, bread making and prunes dessert using the ingredients provided to them in three hours. Patel and her friend created a rose basket which caught the judges’ fancy.
At the Nestle Young Star Chef competition conducted at her institute in February 2005, Patel won a bronze medal in the plated desserts category where each competitor was judged on the innovation, presentation and taste of his/her cold dessert.
Patel had joined the Dadar Institute after completing her Higher Secondary Certificate examination in the commerce faculty. Later this year she will be doing an intensive five-month course in baking and patisserie at the prestigious Cordon Bleu in London after which she will gain work experience.
Rukhshana (left) and Tanaz Patel (center)
Younger sister Tanaz who is studying for her Second Year BCom at Bombay’s H. R. College of Commerce and Economics was declared the Best Organizer for Travel and Tourism by her College in January 2005. Last year she was awarded The Regional Director’s Tourism Award (Western and Central India) presented by the Government of India Tourist Office, Bombay. Studying travel and tourism as an optional subject in College, in her first year she did a certificate course; the second year earns her a diploma and the last year an advanced diploma, explains Tanaz. She was also planning to appear for the IATA (International Air Travellers’ Association) examination in March and thereafter study for an international diploma from Montreal.
For her overall performance at the FYBCom level, Tanaz was conferred the College’s Best Student award which carried a rotating trophy and a citation that was presented on Achievers Day in August 2004.