UK title success
LOUGHBOROUGH College students have been awarded a top prize at the 2017 UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year Grand Final.
Hospitality and Catering students Emily Bucknall, Sian Dixon and Zac Gudger scooped the Best Service Team title at the prestigious competition.
The trio joined four other teams from across the country after being named as finalists for the MSK-sponsored event, which took place at the 20th Anniversary Skills for Chefs conference in Sheffield.
The event featured an audience with Tom Kerridge, dinner with Cyrus Todiwala CBE and a master class with Italian chef Francesco Mazzei and TV chef Joe Hurd as host.
The success was the latest in an outstanding run of competition wins for the college – not least for Emily who began her final year working alongside the Great Britain Craft Guild of Chefs team at the International Culinary Olympics.
With Emily and Sian in the kitchen and Zac front of house, the trio bagged the title after they created, cooked and served a three-course Italian-themed menu.
Loughborough College Hospitality lead Darren Creed said: “This was the first year we had entered – so to reach the final and have the judges describe the taste on all our courses as ‘superb’ before coming away with the 2017 Best Service Team prize, is a particular tribute to Emily, Sian and Zac.
“It has topped off yet another wonderful year for our young chefs at Loughborough College. “
In addition to the UK Restaurant Team of the Year Best Service Team title and Emily’s outstanding achievements, Loughborough College has received more than 70 culinary titles and accolades this academic year.