Loughborough College wins UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year at Skills for Chefs conference

Loughborough College has been named the winner of the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year, announced at a Gala Awards dinner at the Skills for Chefs Conference last week.

The winners’ trophy was presented to Loughborough College by chef Pierre Koffmann and Vicky Enderson, chair of judges.

The all-female team of Caitlin McGrath, Grace McGreal and Riley Monk cooked and served a three-course French menu to four restaurant guests and additional dishes for the judges. The team was mentored by chef-lecturer Darren Creed.

Creed said: “It was a phenomenal performance from the students. They are dedicated and such a pleasure to mentor and they all put in a great deal of work into this amazing competition.”

Enderson added: “We had some outstanding dishes at the grand final – worthy of note being the starter from Sheffield College, the main course from City of Glasgow College and the dessert from Eastleigh College – dishes that could all appear on any award-winning restaurant menu.

“[In the end] it was the consistency over all three courses and a fantastic service that gave Loughborough College the overall win.”

The team will embark on a study tour to Lyon in October that includes a visit to Institut Paul Bocuse.

Pictured from left: Darren Creed, Pierre Koffmann, Grace McGreal, Riley Monk, Caitlin McGrath and Vicky Enderson