Students win place in National Hospitality Competition Grand Final
Celebrations are underway following a national announcement that a team of UCB students has won a place in the 2011 Nestlé Toque d’Or Grand Final.
The pressure was on to perform well as University College Birmingham won the competition last year. This time, to win a place in the 2011 competition the team of four chefs and two food service students had to devise a dream concept restaurant and menu and present it to two industry judges and twenty diners.
Their chosen theme was Infusion, bringing together the tastes and flavours of the diverse cultures of Birmingham and focussing on ethically sourced and sustainable ingredients.
The judges were impressed with the food service students’ concept presentation and liked the originality of the menu.
The first part of the final is a catering training day at an army site next month. The team will then compete against four other colleges, at the BBC Good Food Show in June at the NEC, Birmingham, running their theme restaurant for a day for one hundred guests.
Their three course menu selection starts with Sumac seared Sirloin salad with bulgur wheat & golden raisins followed by pan fried sea bass in a Bengali tomato fish broth & prawn wonton and finishes with Manjari chocolate délice, caramel ice cream, coffee macaroon and caramel sauce.
The team are chefs, Ellen Bailey, Matthew Devlin, Natasha Creamer and Kanakrowai Crofts with food service students Bharat Pattni and Adam Finney. Team mentors are food service lecturer, Andrew Bisconti (pictured with the team) and chef lecturer, Richard Taylor.
Professor Ray Linforth, Principal, University College Birmingham said:
“It is fantastic news and congratulations to everyone involved. The team know they have a lot to live up to as University College Birmingham won the 2010 competition but, they are all well prepared and looking forward to showing off their skills in the final. I am sure they will do well and enjoy the experience of taking part in this prestigious competition".
View a gallery of photo's of the team.