Published on: Wednesday, 21 May 2014

CIT's Department of Tourism & Hospitality is delighted to see Hospitality graduate Diana Dodog, who is originally from Hungary but now living in Courtmacsherry, take the prestigious title of MasterChef Ireland, walking away with the €25,000 in prize money.

Over the course of 10 weeks which encompassed heats in the MasterChef Kitchen, master classes and stints in top restaurants, Diana fought it out under the watchful eyes of Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier, along with 23 other cooks, to become the worthy winner.

Diana owns her own street kitchen and catering business, The Food Depot, along with her husband Michael O’Donovan – another past student of the Department.  The couple met back in 2006 while working at the Kingsley Hotel.

Adrian Gregan, Head of Department, Tourism & Hospitality at CIT commented “we are delighted to see another past student win a national award and hope that we contributed in some small way to Diana’s culinary knowledge.  We wish her every success with her new business and in her future career”.

Diana’s menu for the Final included Salmon Cured in Jameson, Bacon Wrapped Loin of Venison, and Brambles and Bramley Crumble.

This award follows on from recent successes which saw the Department’s students winning titles such as the 2013 ‘Knorr Young Chef of the Year’ and the 2013 Foodie Forum Trainee Chef of the Year’.

The Department of Tourism and Hospitality at CIT encompasses the areas of Culinary Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Bar Management. It has over 700 students and a team of dedicated student-centred industry experienced Lecturers across these disciplines and is located in a modern purpose-built building on CIT’s Bishopstown Campus.