The first ever team selected to represent the UK at the international Future Talents culinary competition this month was made up of young chefs from Loughborough College.
Koppert Cress chose the five-strong student group to go head to head with 15 other teams at Talent van de Toekomst in Holland with Emily Bucknall, Sian Dixon, George Johnson, Mary Harper and Zac Gudger, together with College Hospitality lead Darren Creed, travelling and staying in Holland as guests of the globally successful speciality produce industry innovators.
The contest challenged Emily, Sian and George in the kitchen while Mary and Zac needed to impress front of house with the first round seeing competitors tested on gastronomy, wine, and hospitality. This included the Loughborough College team tasting five wines which they had to correctly identify by grape and region and, having been presented with a ‘black box’ containing seasonal vegetables, meat, fish, herbs, and specialty ingredients, developing a three course menu with amuse bouches.
Success in this round saw the team move through to the final where Emily, Sian and George created the proposed menu for six diners - an amuse bouche of roasted cauliflower soup, squid tentacles and charred cauliflower crisp followed by a starter of Monkfish ravioli, crab bisque , clams and parmesan crisp; an intermediate of sea buckthorn, pickled wild mushrooms, dressed salad and poached duck eggs; a main course of Roast rump of beef, salsify, fondant potato, broad beans, red wine jus and a dessert of Hazelnut praline crumb, mango vanilla parfait and raspberry coulis. Mary and Zac meanwhile selected the appropriate wines to match the menu.
“No other UK team has ever been selected to compete at Future Talents and it was one of the toughest competitions we have ever done – but also one of the most exciting,” said Darren Creed.
“We went in totally blind. We had no idea what the team would be faced with so there was no specific preparation or practice – and on the day I was not allowed to offer any input.
“It tested the students’ skills in every possible way and it is a real tribute to them that they reached the final stage. The judges commented that ours was the most cohesive team in the competition – and the organisers invited us back next year.
“Being the first ever UK competitors made the team minor celebrities - they were even interviewed for Dutch TV. And on top of Koppert Cress offering to make us their guests in Holland, they also also provided a hugely educational tour of their fantastic HQ. Loughborough College cannot thank them enough for offering our students such a fantastic experience.”
Pictured: The Loughborough College team in Holland (left to right): Mary Harper, Emily Bucknall, Sian Dixon, George Johnson and Zac Gudger