Sam wins top prize in cooking contest

STUDENT chef Sam Watkins is heading to Dubai after winning a national cookery competition.

Sam, 18, from Loughborough, pictured, won the Back of House Student category at the Nestle Toque d’Or 2022 Grand Final after a three-day contest in London.

The Loughborough College student’s prize is an all expensespaid trip to the World Chefs Congress & Expo 2022 in Abu Dhabi, as well as a gastronomic weekend in Dubai.

Sam said: “When they called my name out as a winner, it was mindblowing.

“It has been an amazing week and I’ve learned so much. There are things I feel I can improve on but to be honest, the whole week has felt like a really fun holiday.

“The prize is amazing. But I’m really excited to have won.”

For the final, judges scrutinised the finalists’ team-working skills, adaptability and how well they understood each element of the tasks.

They were observed on visits to farms to learn about sustainable foods, bee pollination and animal welfare and were taken on an exploration of ingredients at Borough Market in London.

The final challenge put competitors together in a finedining kitchen to produce highquality dishes for guests.

Darren Creed, Sam’s tutor and the college’s curriculum manager for hospitality and catering, said: “This is easily one of the toughest competitions going and to win it is a testament to her incredible skill, her passion and her desire to continuously improve.

“They have really set her apart. She is so humble with it and is an absolute pleasure to teach.”

The Toque d’Or was judged by MasterChef: The Professionals, The Festive Knockout winner

Louisa Ellis, sommelier Raul Diaz and others.

As well as the trip abroad, the Savoy Education Trust will be providing £1,000 for each of the colleges taking part in the finals and £2,500 for the winning colleges to buy equipment.

Earlier this year, Sam finished second in the national Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of the Year and so impressed one of the judges he offered her a job in his restaurant.