College chefs make final of culinary contest
A TEAM of young chefs from Loughborough College has made it through to the final of the Country Range Student Chef Challenge.
In a tense semi final competing against Derby University, City of Liverpool College, Gloucestershire College, City College Norwich and the College of West Anglia, the Loughborough College team coached by lecturer Darren Creed, who won the competition in 2016, will now head to Hotelympia on Wednesday, March 7, for the live final cook off.
The team, which consists of college students Lewis Dobson, Lechaie McManus and John Nismal, will battle it out for the prestigious title against nine other colleges from around the UK including Derby University’s team who qualified as the first runner-up.
Teams will have to once again cook their three-course, three-cover menu in 90 minutes but this time in front of a live exhibition audience at the UK’s largest foodservice and hospitality event.
While the menu’s can be tweaked slightly before the final, the Loughborough team’s successful menu comprised of:
Braised Pig Cheek, crispy bon bon celeriac, star anise and apple compote, Roast Cod loin, corn 3 ways chilli sambal garlic and coriander scented bisque. Dark Chocolate marquise, scented fennel seed hazelnut pra- line crumb, black currant sorbet
Now in its 24th year, the annual Country Range Student Chef Challenge has become the pinnacle for full-time hospitality college students looking to develop skills and showcase their culinary prowess and creativity. This year’s theme is ‘Around the World in Three Spices’ with teams having to use a different fresh or ground spice in each of their courses.
Emma Holden, Organiser of the Country Range Student Chef Challenge, said: “It was an incredible start to the semi-finals with some unbelievable technique, team work and dishes on display.”