The team of three front and back of house students took their prize – and walked into a place in ‘Toque d’Or’ history – at an awards dinner at London’s prestigious Dorchester Hotel, where Nestlé Professional® managing director, George Vezza, described the finalist teams as ‘inspirational’, and said that “if this is the future of our industry – then we are in good hands”.
The Westminster Kingsway team beat off five other colleges (chosen from a record number of 120-plus team entries in 2015).
Rebecca Heath, Westminster Kingsway’s front-of-house representive, said: “This experience will stay with us forever; everything we have learned, everything we got to try and the ways in which we developed throughout the competitions, both as a team and individuals – it’s unforgettable.
“We are honoured to have been selected to compete in Toque d’Or against some truly incredible rival teams and to have won has really left us speechless with emotion. It is the perfect end to all our college careers, and the most amazing start to our careers in Hospitality”
The judges were tasked with assessing the teams not only on their practical and theoretical knowledge and skill, but also on their ability to think on their feet, back each other up as a team and improvise solutions when necessary.
In the end the judging panel – which included celebrity chef and head of judges James Tanner and former lecturer Andy Stacey, who previously guided two teams to Toque d’Or victory – picked Westminster Kingsway for their “overall professionalism, wonderful flexibility, highly developed skillsets and their clear passion for the industry”.
Tanner said: “It takes a special kind of person to commit to a career in hospitality – it can be tough at 
times and to succeed, future chefs and managers must be able to work under pressure yet still produce a smile at the end of their shift.
“These skills are as important as being passionate about cooking and service and reflect the best of the best delivering the whole package. Every team performed incredibly – you’d never have known that some were just 18 or only had one or two years of experience under their belts – but in the end Westminster Kingsway proved they really had what it takes to go the whole way. We are all sure that they can look forward to very bright futures.”
Amongst their prizes, the Westminster Kingsway team will be cooking at the upcoming Footprint Awards, gain work experience at the Dorchester under Henri Bossi, share in a masterclass at Billingsgate, as well as cook and serve for the renowned Sovereign’s Parade 3-course lunch for 1,000 guests at Sandhurst. That’s in addition to joining Nestlé Professional as guests in its VIP box at the 02 and enjoying a celebratory dinner hosted by Anton Mosimann at the world-renowned, Mosimanns of Belgravia.
Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or® is an annual initiative to support young people into the Hospitality Industry and drive the development of skills within the sector through learning and training schemes that add genuine value to those participating. It is now in its 27th year and is the leading student catering competition of its kind, offering a balanced experience for all competitors across back and front of house.