Students achieve success using catering equipment

A group of students from the Grimsby Institute recently achieved success using catering equipment. The collection of learners made it through to the final five of a national catering competition, the Grimsby Telegraph reports.The Toque D’Or contest challenges people to form a team of chefs and front-of-house staff to create and run their own restaurants, complete with kitchen equipment.

The finalists will get the chance to test out the business for real and serve 100 customers at this year’s BBC Summer Good Food Show, which is to be held in June at the Birmingham NEC.Already, the students from the Grimsby Institute, which is based in Nuns Corner, Grimsby, have won £2,000 of catering equipment for their efforts. The team comprises cookery students Lee Belton, Christopher Thompson, Ashley Butt and Kieran Kirwood, as well as front-of-house duo Ja’el Carrington and Chelsea Spearey.

The last round of the competition saw the team invite 20 guests to dinner after transforming the college’s Gallery Restaurant into The Fish Tank, which specialised in locally-sourced seafood.If they make it all the way and clinch first place in the final round, they stand to win more kitchen equipment and a European trip.

Commenting on the contest, hospitality tutor Paul Robinson said: “On March 28th, they will meet their mentor in Maidenhead and, after the competition in June, they will go for a gala dinner at The Dorchester in London to find out if they have won.”We were clearly very good at what we did and we have a good business plan. It is a good concept and the team just hope they can do enough to finish in first place.”Meanwhile, contestant Mr Belton noted that the challenge had been enjoyable so far and he suggested the team have what it takes to go all the way and finish in first place.