Lancashire's finest take the culinary crown
A team from Blackpool and The Fylde College have won the prestigous Nestlé Toque d'Or student chef challenge .
The competition tests students' kitchen and front of house experience, as well as their business acumen in developing a profitable restaurant concept.
The college took the hot issue of Blackpool's bid to host a Las Vegas style super casino, with its 'Seventh Floor at the Palace Casino' themed restaurant.
While the Lancashire seaside town itself lost out to the Manchester bid in the casino stakes, the students hit the jackpot, bringing home the much sought-after title.
The finals in April saw the four teams challenged to serve 100 paying customers using the facilities of the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies.
The team of four chefs, Russell Lee, Mandy Riedel, Tony Bee and Graham Floyd chopped and cooked their way to producing 300 dishes, whilst the front of house duo of Ben Walsh and Stephen Bradley ensured all customers were attended to and served promptly.
The menu was cream of red mullet and Pernod soup, followed by supreme of guinea fowl, served with butternut squash risotto, creamed savoy cabbage and a wild mushroom sauce. The rules then called for a sharing dessert using Nestlé confectionery products, and the college served up an ambitious assiette of four desserts taking inspiration from products including KitKat and Rolos.
Martin Lines, marketing director, Nestlé FoodServices, said: "Toque d'Or is tough. The winning team has to excel in all aspects of the competition - from business concepts, to menu design and execution of the dishes. It's testament to the achievements of the four teams competing in this year's final that the judges were faced with such a difficult decision in choosing a winner."
The six team members win a study tour which will provide the students with the opportunity to acquire further skills and expand their knowledge of the culinary world. The Blackpool and Fylde College will also receive catering equipment, along with the other three final teams of Bristol College, Ayr College and North Devon College.
The winners were announced at a ceremony in London hosted by TV chef James Martin.
