Rising Industry Talent Shines through in Toque d’Or® Heats Shortlist

The Heats will host 48 front of house and back of house students from 23 colleges (see below for full list). Over the coming days each entrant will receive an email from Nestlé Professional to confirm whether they’ve landed a place in the highly anticipated Heats.

Katya Simmons, managing director Nestlé Professional UK&I said: “Each and every year of the competition, I’m taken aback by the level of passion, skill and commitment shown in people’s entries. It’s a real privilege to see and reaffirms how much future talent we have to look forward to as an industry. 

“I’m delighted to welcome all the shortlisted candidates to the next stage of the competition, the heats. The bar has been set extremely high and exceeded our expectations, so we’re excited to see how the rest of the competition shapes up. We hope all the incredible action that unfolds over the coming weeks and months has a positive ripple effect, inspiring others to think differently about the wonderful world of hospitality and the career opportunities available. Good luck to all the 2023 competitors!”

What will the competitors be tasked with?

Back of house students will learn how to create sustainable plant-based dishes during a series of masterclasses delivered by judges Louisa Ellis, MasterChef: The Professionals, The Festive Knockout winner; Justin Clarke, Development Chef at Nestlé Professional; and Paul Fletcher, Senior Quality & Innovation Chef at Whitbread.

Front of House competitors will learn barista and wine skills from judges Raul Diaz, wine expert and Founder of Wine Training School; Ryan Burke, Head of Training for Hot Beverages at Nestlé Professional; and Sophie Taylor, 2021 FOH Toque d’Or winner now chef de partie at the Gleneagles Townhouse. Students will then work together as a team to serve lunch to guests before receiving feedback on food, drinks and the overall service.

Colleges with shortlisted students for the 2023 Toque d’Or Heats include

·       Edinburgh College

·       University College Birmingham

·       Sheffield College, City Campus

·       Westminster Kingsway College

·       Nottingham College

·       New City College Redbridge

·       Kirklees College

·       Newcastle College

·       Ayrshire College

·       North Hertfordshire College

·       Midkent College

·       New City College

·       MK College

·       Cheshire College South and West

·       Hugh Baird College

·       City of Glasgow College

·       Coleg Cambria

·       Cardiff and Vale College

·       South Cheshire College

·       York College

·       152 Hardwick Lane

·       West Notts College

·       Middlesbrough College

2023 Toque d’Or key dates

Heats – 15th – 18th May 2023

Finalists announced – 22nd May 2023

Grad finals hosted – 4th – 8th June 2023

Awards – 30th June

Follow Toque d’Or on:

Twitter - @NestleToquedor

Facebook - @nestletoquedoruk

Instagram - @nestletoquedor

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