The Toque d'Or competition is made up of 6 phases outlined below, although the competition format and challenges could change due to Covid restrictions.
Registered students and apprentices, employers and lecturers will be notified of any changes to the competition.
Entry
REGISTRATION: Phase 1
Timing: Deadline by 4th February 2022
This year, we’ve designed the competition to attract more fresh talent than ever.
To take part in the competition, you’ll need to be a student or apprentice on *Level 2 or 3. If you’re an apprentice, you also need to be registered on an apprenticeship programme with a college, university or training provider.
Lecturers can register all Back and Front of House students on level 2 and 3.
Employers can register all Back and Front of House apprentices on level 2 and 3 or apprentices on levels 2 and 3 can register themselves.
*Levels 2 and 3 or equivalent national, e.g: levels 5 and 6 in Scotland
SELECTION: Phase 2
Timing: Deadline 11th February 2022
Location: At college or in your workplace
Back of House contestants:
- Back of House competitors will be asked to create a Chicken Ballotine at their college or employment with the coaching and supervision of their lecturers and employers.
- Competitors, lecturers and employers should follow the Instagram account @nestletoquedor for top tips on how to best prepare a Chicken Ballotine.
- All students and apprentices must also follow Toque d’Or Instagram (@nestletoquedor) and let Toque d’Or follow them back. These competitors must upload two photos of the SELECTION task – butchered chicken and the finished dish - to their own Instagram account and tag @nestletoquedor and #toquedor2022.
- Lecturers and employers will mark the top three students and apprentices work on ten key criteria: butchery, knife skills, hygiene, stock, culinary skills, creativity, taste, texture, portion size and presentation.
- Lecturers or employers will share with us the names and marks of the 3 chosen students or apprentices selected to go to the next stage.
- Colleges and employers will be given a budget of £5.00 per student or apprentice taking part on the selection phase, so this can be used to purchase the ingredients for the task.
Please download the document with detailed instructions and marking sheet for the Selection phase here
All photos must be uploaded on Instagram by competitors on 11th February. Toque d’Or will get in contact with lecturers and employers on 11th to find out who the selected 3 Back of House competitors per college or employer are.
Front of House contestants:
- Front of House competitors will be asked to lay-up a table inspired by a country of their choice and also to create a coffee drink (alcoholic or not) inspired by the same country. They must complete this activity with the coaching and supervision of their lecturers and employers.
- Competitors, lecturers and employers should follow the Instagram account @nestletoquedor for top tips on how to best lay-up a table and prepare a coffee drink.
- All students and apprentices must also follow Toque d’Or Instagram (@nestletoquedor) and let Toque d’Or follow them back. These competitors must upload two photos of the SELECTION task – table inspired by a country of their choice and their created coffee drink - to their own Instagram account and tag @nestletoquedor and #toquedor2022.
- Lecturers or employers will mark the top three students on ten criteria including coffee creativity, taste, texture, presentation, description/story, table setting creativity, theme, accuracy hygiene and overall impression.
- Lecturers or employers will send us the marks of the 3 chosen Front of House students or apprentices selected to go to the next stage.
- Colleges and employers will be given a budget of £5.00 per student and apprentice taking part on the selection phase, so this can be used to purchase the ingredients for the task.
Please download the document with detailed instructions for the Selection phase here (hyperlink to word doc)
All photos must be uploaded on Instagram by competitors on 11th February 2022. Toque d’Or will get in contact with lecturers and employers on 11th February 2022 to find out who the selected 3 Front of House competitors per college or employer are.
All students and apprentices entered in Phase 2 – SELECTION – will receive a Toque d’Or 2022 certificate.
QUALIFICATION: Phase 3
Timing: from 25th to 27th February 2022
Location: online
Students and apprentices that make it through the selection process will go on to the qualification phase. Lecturers and apprentices will be emailed a link on Friday 25th February 2022 for the qualification phase. This link will be live until Sunday 27th February 2022 and all competitors will need to complete and submit the following:
- A short test with 10 multiple choice questions on sustainable diets. We will provide links to study for the assessment.
- A 30-second video of competitors telling us about their passion and motivation to work in hospitality. Plus, what it means to be taking part in Toque d’Or 2022. Competitors will need to upload their video to their Instagram account as a grid post and tagging @NestleToquedOr and including the hashtag #toquedor2022.
After this phase, 60 qualified competitors will go forward to take part in the Heats in late March: this is where the competition really starts to get serious!
The shortlisted competitors will include 15 Back of House students and 15 Back of House apprentices plus 15 Front of House students and 15 Front of House apprentices. All competitors will be notified by social media and email by 11th March 2022.
Heats: Phase 4
Timing: 28th March 2022 – 1st April 2022
Location: Nestlé Offices, Gatwick
Organisers of Toque d’Or 2022 will be in direct contact with all successful competitors by 11th March 2022 to confirm arrangements for taking part in the Heats. Competitors will be informed at this stage which day they will compete, agree uniform requirements and discuss any other relevant challenge information. Travel to Gatwick and accommodation will be organised for competitors.
The Heats will take place over 5 days at Nestlé Offices, Gatwick, home to one of the UK’s leading food manufacturer producing some of the UK’s best loved brands. All expenses will be covered by Toque d’Or.
After this phase, 12 competitors will go forward to take part in the Grand Finals.
Finalists will include 3 Back of House students and 3 Back of House apprentices, 3 Front of House students and 3 Front of House apprentices. All finalists will be notified by social media and email by 4th April 2022.
Grand Finals: Phase 5
Timing: 25th April 2022 – 29th April 2022
Location: To be confirmed
Taking part in Toque d’Or 2022 Grand Finals will be the experience of a lifetime. Meeting fellow competitors, learning new skills, taking part in educational but fun challenges, networking with industry peers and having direct feedback from the expert panel of judges are just some of the exciting highlights that finalists in Toque d’Or 2022 can look forward to.
Awards: Phase 6
Timing: Friday 20th May 2022
Location: To be confirmed
All 12 finalists plus their lecturers and employers will be invited to attend the awards ceremony that takes place in May, venue to be confirmed. The 4 Toque d’Or 2022 winners – Back of House student, Back of House apprentice, Front of House student and Front of House apprentice – will be announced at the awards.
Winners Prize
Timing: 27th May 2022 – 2nd June 2022
Location: Worldchefs Congress & Expo, Abu Dhabi
The four winners will receive the trip of a lifetime and every foodie’s dream with the exciting opportunity to learn new skills and build on their food knowledge and insight.
We are so excited to announce the 2022 Toque d’Or winners will be attending the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Along with over 5,000 chefs from 110 countries Toque d’Or 2022 winners will have the opportunity to watch over 70 competitors taking part in the Global Chefs Challenge.
The winners will also enjoy a gastronomic foodie weekend in Dubai, visiting the best restaurants and bar and experiencing the latest trends in food and drink.
The trip will take place from 27th May to 2nd June 2022 – see terms and conditions for full details.
Prizes will also be awarded to individual lecturers of the winning students as well as the college. Employers of the winning apprentices will also be awarded a prize. Prizes to be announced soon.
See Toque d’Or past competition challenges, Awards and winner’s trip on our Toque d’Or YouTube channel
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