It's the last day of Worldskills and the competitions come to an end.
Even the bloggers' staycation/work.
But before I rushed off to the NTU talk in the afternoon, I managed to capture some photos for visual merchandising. Something I'm really interested in but not reported in my blog yet.

Before you ask, visual merchandising is where the designer creates a visual display of a product. You know, like shop windows? It requires certain amount of creativity, ability to create things that are visual appealing and able to conceptualise.

Competitors rushing to complete their displays. Clothes and stuff are sponsored by Isetan!

This is pretty simple but it's not the end result. (I was there in the morning! The competition ended around 4?)
A really adorable kids' apparel layout. I love the clean design, it looks professionally done!



One of the competitors working hard on a Adidas display. Competitors have to make their own display sets, paint it and settle their own mannequins. It's a lot of work!


Working on one of the more colourful displays at the competition..


The only guy in the competition and the only one working on products instead of clothes. It looks like a 3D ad! I think its interesting to use Wonderwoman for skincare products.

This is my personal favourite. It's not completed so I'm not sure how it will look like when its finished, but I like it. I can imagine a woman in that dress, walking in the woods. She's twirling around and singing a happy song. So dreamy!

NOTE: This is a image heavy post, also post may cause excessive drooling.

Today was all about cooking and serving. I have a small passion for cooking. I love doing it, i just hate the after - washing dishes. Once in awhile is fine, but everyday? It's hard to handle. I was super excited to cover cooking because it's a rare chance to be able to see the behind-the-scene action.

When we got there, the chefs were preparing desserts..







Sigh, I always wanted to bake, but I never own an oven in my life before ):
I went around taking shots of the different chefs at work.
Then I met her (below). She did her thing, looking serious and being really cool.
She had it all, she cooked like she has been doing it since she was born. She was the kind of girl where girls would look up to her. She maintained her coolness.. then she realised I was shooting her. And something amazing happened.

She looked up and smiled at me. Thrice. (but being a noob photographer, I couldn't capture a good shot.)




And the preparation continues... Let me just say, the kitchen smelled FABULOUS. I feel like a little kid who is visiting the cookie factory.





I was practically drooling. (It was lunchtime!)







I would LOVE to learn to bake like this. It looks really good. And they are all so young!!




I took this because I recognise the celebrity chef. (with the specs) He's always on channel U/8 food shows.


Next up, restaurant service. Yesterday, it was the cocktail session. Today, it's the lunch service. Nom nom nom ;)









Each competitor had to serve two tables with two guests each. From opening wine, serving appetisers to cutting cheese, it was not easy. And they had to endure the photographers (us) snapping away and judges walking around.

Then, the adorable mascots appeared!


I LOVE THE PINK NURSE x3 I think she's super adorable. They were so cheeky. One of them stood at the lift area and when the door opened, he scared the hell out of the people in the lift. Hahahah!







Oh, back to serving! Opening the wine bottle is a tough task, most of them seem to have a hard time. But they always did it with a smile. (Y)






After an hour into the competition, the main course was finally served. There was a choice between pan grilled fish or roasted chicken leg. (YUM.)



And then comes the cheeeeese platter! I know I don't know how to appreciate it because the cheese looks fake to me. Heh. :P



And that's it. Everything looks scrumptious, no? After spending almost the entire day camped out at the cooking and restaurant services, I gained something new. A new found appreciation for everyone who works at a restaurant/cafe. It is hard work. You go to a restaurant and act like you're very important and demand for good service. But do you think about what goes into preparing your food? From cooking to displaying the food to serving, there's actually a lot of effort that has gone through. It seems like nothing, but it really requires a lot of effort. A big applause to all the chefs/serving staff out there!

Next time you visit the restaurant, the least you can do is give them a smile. (: