Loughborough College has scooped a top prize at the 2018 UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year Grand Final.
Hospitality and Catering students James Charlesworth, Finlay Royle and Lewis Dobson competed at the prestigious competition before James was announced as winner of the prestigious Barista Award.
The trio was selected to join four other finalists at the Skills for Chefs conference in Sheffield which featured an audience with Raymond Blanc and where the competition took a Latin American theme, with Michelin –star chef and Peruvian cuisine pioneer Robert Ortiz as special guest judge.
With Finlay and Lewis in the kitchen and James - known as Jay Jay - front of house, the trio were challenged to create, cook and serve a three-course Latin American-themed menu. It featured Casa Luker chocolate and Koppert Cress and was to include a pre-arrival cocktail and speciality coffee to finish the meal as well as a selection of wines.
“This was only the second time we have entered the competition and we have won a major national prize both times,” said Loughborough College chef lecturer and Hospitality lead Darren Creed. “It was an outstanding achievement for Jay Jay to win the Barista award and I am incredibly proud of the whole team.
“Everyone worked so hard for months researching and developing their dishes and service, refining and refining. To watch Jay Jay, who was so incredibly reserved when he joined the College two years ago, then looking so confident front of house was amazing.
“When they announced him as winner he looked so shocked. He had never won anything like it before. He called his Mum and she was crying down the ‘phone.
“Young Restaurant Chef of the Year really is an amazing competition. The demonstrations from leading industry names offered our students the chance to boost their skills with some fantastic new techniques and ideas - and to also be given the chance to meet renowned chefs like Raymond Blanc was inspirational.
“And Finlay was offered three work experience opportunities, including two at Michelin starred restaurants. She is thrilled.”
“We saw Jay Jay’s progression as we approached the competition and the look on his face when they announced his name was brilliant,” added Finlay. “I think our table made the most noise – we let out an absolutely massive cheer. Lewis and I worked really hard in the kitchen and our service went smoothly – we just had fun with it. We enjoyed every minute of the whole thing. It was a great experience.
“I did food tech when I was at school and really enjoyed it and my parents always like it when I cook for them but this time last year I was at school doing A-levels in Biology, Politics and Psychology , so this has been a big change for me. I visited Loughborough College and saw what was on offer and enrolled on the spot. It’s taken me right out of my comfort zone but Darren and the team have encouraged and supported me all the way and I’ve never looked back – and now I’m getting all these fantastic opportunities. I can’t believe it.”
Jay Jay created an arrival cocktail of Pisco Sour and offered a freshly roasted Columbian coffee which he had carefully matched for taste with the Casa Luker chocolate. The menu produced by Finlay and Lewis included 28 day dry aged beef fillet, choclo corn cream, Escabeche dressing, mini taco, Casa Luker Santander 85% single origin chocolate and peppercorn sauce and for dessert a Casa Luker chocolate mousse, passion fruit sorbet, passion fruit gel, morado crumble and cornabria blossom.
Pictured: UK Young Restaurant of the Year 2018 Barista Award winner James Charlesworth (left) with Loughborough College chef lecturer Darren Creed and team mates Finlay Royle and Lewis Dobson