Ready, Steady, Cook!

Students Compete in the Kitchen

Recently, budding Gordon Ramseys’ and Jamie Olivers’ from Tamworth & Lichfield College’s Tamworth Campus took part in a ‘Best Chef Competition’. The challenge was to produce a three course pre-set menu and have it judged by top industry chefs.

Eleven students (all from Year 1 NVQ Level 1 Hospitality & Catering) entered the competition; they started to cook at 9:30am and had to have all of their dishes on the table by 12pm.

The students were being judged not just on their food but also how they worked in the kitchen and coped with pressure. The Judges were scoring on six main areas; safety, hygiene, working relationship, presentation of dishes, imagination and of course taste.

The Judges were Andrew Baldwin, Head Chef at the George Hotel Lichfield and Ryan Malpass, Executive Head Chef for Brook Hotels Group. Both have vast experience of cooking but also the running of a professional kitchen and were amazed by some of the skill and flair the students were showing. “The cooking skill of these students has surprised us,” said the Judges. “They are doing really well considering they have only be doing this for a year and we are both impressed by the facilities the college has. It’s a very professional environment to train and work in.”

After the Judges had monitored the student’s efforts in the kitchen and had sampled all the dishes, they had some serious deliberating to do. In a close fought contest where all entrants had produced excellent meals, they were eventually able to decide on the winners.

In third place was Matthew Huskins, in second was Grant Dixon and in first place and newly crowned ‘Best Chef 2008’ was Ashlee Hagan. All the students who entered are looking forward to further their career in catering and many will be looking to continue their studies at college.

If you are interested in catering or becoming a chef, Tamworth & Lichfield College run NVQ Level 1, 2 and 3 courses in Hospitality & Catering. You can even gain direct entry to Level 2 (if you have 3 GCSE’s at grade D or above). If you are interested, call 01827 310202 for more information.