Aspiring butchers compete for ‘The Golden Knife’

They had to complete various tests such as deboning and processing meat. The sector wants to promote the profession with the competition, because the number of young independent butchers is still decreasing.

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Learning in practice

The ten participants in the professional competition Het Gouden Knife had to successfully complete three tests. The participants in two series included two West Flemish people: Michiel De Paepe from Zuienkerke and Angelo Stokkaer from Beernem.

“Extremely nervous, extremely nervous, right? – Is it working? So far it has gone quite smoothly and well. I’m more worried about the last part, the ready-made part, because I haven’t really practiced for that” , says Angelo Stokkaer.

From this year onwards, you must be in Bruges for the Syntra West training in our province. But would-be butchers mainly learn the trade in practice.

“I started to dislike school a bit and I wanted to work more,” says Michiel De Paepe.

“I then ended up at Syntra West and started there. Butchery was a choice because I like working with meat. I like to know where it comes from. I actually fell into it a bit. Yes, I am happy that I chose it have.”

The professional competition is important for the sector, because consumers may choose local more often: there are fewer and fewer of them.