![Vicky Enderson pictured with the Westminster Kingsway College Team of Nikoleta Theofylakitdou, Joe Peacock, Nikita Shepelev and guest judge Henrique Sá Pessoa UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year announced](/sites/default/files/styles/single_page/public/images/westminster_kingsway_college.jpg?itok=87Z8wxYl)
The theme for the eighth annual competition was Portuguese gastronomy and Henrique Sá Pessoa, a two Michelin starred chef from Lisbon, was a guest judge. Other judges included Andrew Bennett MBE, Vicky Enderson and Stuart McIvor.
David McKown, director of the competition said: “All teams performed exceptionally well, the judges had tough decision to make and the Westminster team came out on top.”
The winning prize, sponsored by MSK, included a study trip to Lisbon, Portugal. The visit is for three team members and a mentor who will get to experience a meal at Alma, which has two Michelin stars.
Sá Pessoa added: “The standard was a lot higher than I expected and the amount of research the teams had done on Portuguese food and wine was just amazing”.
In addition, Nikita Shepelev, from Westminster Kingsway College, won the ‘Barista of the Year’ prize.
Other teams competing at the Grand Final included Radmoor Restaurant Loughborough who won ‘Best Menu’ and the ‘Convotherm Ignite for Innovation Award’, Kendal College who won ‘Best Use of Luker Chocolate’, Loughborough College who won ‘Best Use of Koppert Cress’ and ‘Best Service’ and the City of Glasgow College who picked up an award for ‘Best Newcomer.’