Chef Fred Ming, Bermuda's culinary gadfly and cooking teacher extraordinaire , has added another feather to his professional cap.

Three weeks ago, the Island's best-known master of the gastronomic arts emerged as the Bermudian answer to Escoffier when he immortalised the induction of long-time educator Marjorie Bean as the first Dame of the British Empire from Bermuda with such mouth-watering tributes as Snapper Dame Marjorie and Mango Souffle Marjorie Louise.

Last week, however, Mr. Ming emerged as a leading educational light himself when five of the students in his professional chef programme at the Bermuda College swept a number of food categories at the recent Agricultural Exhibition by winning a total of five medals, including one gold, three silvers and a bronze.

The wins were particularly noteworthy as they capped off the first time that a group of students in the two-year programme had submitted food entries for judging at the annual Exhibition.

"I am elated with their (the students') performance,'' Mr. Ming said this week from his kitchen at the College.

"When (the silver and bronze) results first came through, I felt good. But I nearly cried when I found out that one of (the students) had won a gold medal.

In the past, we've come very close to the top in other competitions, and it's been a dream of mine to see a student actually win a gold.'' The proud gold medalist, Ms Janette Rose from Port Antonio, Jamaica, collected her prize in the Exhibition's Cold Sweet category for four sumptuous desserts: a colourful orange souffle, a decadent chocolate parfait, a delicate souffle Arliquill and a richly creamy grateau McMohan.

"I am still in the process of learning,'' Ms Rose, who has also won a top BC student award and the corresponding citation from the New York-based Societe Culinaire Philanthropique, told The Royal Gazette modestly.

"Although I have won a gold medal, I still feel that I have a great deal to learn, and I'm proud to be a student of the Bermuda College.'' Indeed, the accomplishments of Ms Rose and the other students at this year's Agricultural Exhibition has been a source of much pride for both the College as a whole and especially the programme, which, as Mr. Ming said, has traditionally been "unprepared to meet the needs of Bermuda's hospitality industry'' but has proven with the wins that its dozen or so students "do have talent and can do the job'' when they are hired.

Particularly encouraging to those who are associated with food and hospitality on the Island is the fact that four of the five medal winners from the College are in their first year of the programme.

In addition to Ms Rose's unprecedented win, the silver medal in the Cold Sweet category was awarded to first-year student Ms Linda Desormeaux, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana who triumphed with her four creations: a magnificent pear Arenberg, a rainbow bavarois, a wittily rendered chocolate mousse "money bag'' and a simple, savoury fruit basket.

The two other silver medals were won in the Miniature class by Mr. David Tyrrell and Ms LaFawn Wilson, who took the prizes for their edible petunias and "Natural Beauty'' wedding cake respectively.

Second-year student Mr. Khyjuan Landy, meanwhile, earned the College's only bronze medal for his richly textured "special occasion'' cake, while Mr.

Gregory Hodge, a first-year student, was highly commended for his gum paste and royal icing showpiece in the shape of a Japanese temple.

Said Mr. Ming of his pupils' labours: "The students worked extremely hard on their exhibits, and we are delighted with their success. It is so rewarding for them to see all of their effort and dedication pay dividends like this.'' Explaining that a crop of such gifted novices is rare, the chef and teacher added: "I would call this year a vintage year. Every three or four years we get a number of vintage students, students who show the required amount of interest and dedication to really succeed.

"It takes, as you know, a great deal of time to participate in something like (the Exhibition), and these students have given what it takes.

"The results, their success, bodes very well for the future.'' CULINARY CHAMPS -- An unprecedented six students in the Bermuda College's two-year chef programme were awarded medals or citations in the food categories of this year's Agricultural Exhibition. Pictured with their creations recently are (from left in centre photo) silver medalist Ms LaFawn Wilson, gold medalist Ms Janette Rose, bronze medalist Mr. Khyjuan Landy, chef and programme instructor Mr. Fred Ming, silver medalist Mr. David Tyrrell, citation winner Mr. Gregory Hodge and silver medalist Ms Linda Desormeaux. Two of Ms Rose's gold medal winners, an orange souffle (at left) and a grateau McMohan, flank the assembly.