Danny Francomb from Hackney College, Pam Leigh of Boston College and Sanah Masood of University College Birmingham triumphed in the British Turkey Student Chef of the Year competition earlier this year and cooked for the guests as part of their work experience prize.
Francomb prepared a range of hot and cold canapés, which were served at the champagne reception. Leigh created the starter course of turkey pie and turkey quail Scotch egg with piccalilli. Finally, Masood served a main course of roast fillet of turkey with rosemary and wild mushrooms, blackberry sauce and roast butternut squash.
Paul Kelly, chair of the British Turkey Federation, said: “Everyone was really wowed by the meal put on by the students. They have spent three days prepping for this event under the watchful eye of the hotel’s director of food and beverages, executive chef Andrew Bennett, and it has paid off. They showed just how versatile turkey can be and we hope that they will go on to utilise this tasty, healthy meat in their future careers.”
The judging panel comprised Lee Maycock, chairman Craft Guild of Chefs; Sheila Eggleston, food and drink editor, Cost Sector Catering, and Tina Betts from consumer food magazine Heathy Food Guide, plus consumer Janet Joy, who won her place on the panel after entering a competition on britishturkey.co.uk
Winners of the 13 categories were announced from 160 entries, ranging from festive stuffed turkey parcels, to on-trend buttermilk coated turkey fillets and convenient bacon wrapped turkey paupiettes, perfect for a dinner parties.
Kelly added: “I would like to extend my congratulations to all the foodservice and retail buyers, manufacturers and farmers who won an award.
“Everyone in the industry knows we have to continually evolve and up our game to be the very best, and these results demonstrate just that. A special British Turkey Awards winner logo will be available for placing on packs, brochures and POS to show their customers they really are buying the best of British.”
The winners in full: