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Young Jersey chefs are aiming to cook up a storm and nab a top culinary title for a third year running... But will they be able to stand the heat?
Highlands College students will this March battle it out in the kitchen against three other culinary colleges in a bid to win the Heat competition.
'Team Jersey' will have to cook-off against teams from Bangor (NI), Middlesbrough and Farnborough to get their hands on the Peter Queree Trophy once more.
Pictured: Lee Smith, the Head Chef at Samphire, will lead the Jersey team.
The culinary college competition Heat, supported by Samphire, will see the rising star chefs go head-to-head over two days of competition on 5 and 6 March at the Highlands Academy Restaurant. Each team will be led by a chef from their college location.
The Jersey team will be led by Lee Smith, Head Chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant Samphire and Dominic Farrell, Highlands College Chef Lecturer.
Mr Smith said: “I am really looking forward to leading the Jersey team and working alongside the talent of the future. The Jersey Team won last year so the pressure is on and the competition is of a very high standard, with some of the top colleges in the UK competing.”
Each college will cook a three-course lunch or dinner that will be judged by four chefs in the UK catering industry - Henri Brosi, Executive Chef at The Dorchester; Stephen Scuffell, Craft Guild of Chefs Vice President and Chef Ambassador at Gourmet Classic; Andrew Bennett MBE, Chair of the Craft Guild of Chefs; and Paul Gayler MBE, Chef Consultant.
Video: Highlands College won the culinary competition in 2018, after a first victory the year before.
Visiting student chefs will get a chance to explore the island and they will be taken to meet local suppliers to see some of the best local produce at its source.
Front of house students from each college will also be judged on their level of service. In addition, Highlands College Media Students will work alongside Freedom Media to capture images and footage from the events, as they did in previous years.
The winners will then be announced at a Gala Celebration dinner, be hosted by a celebrity chef on 7 March at St. Brelade's Bay Hotel. Islanders will be able to attend the competition services and the gala dinner to sample the student's tasty creations.
Video: Highlights from last year's competition.
Eileen Buicke-Kelly, Director, Culinary Arts, Hospitality Studies and Catering Operations at Highlands College said: “We are very excited to welcome some of the top talent from three outstanding culinary colleges in the UK to compete here in Jersey once again against our students at the Academy Restaurant at Highlands College.
"The students competing will all work alongside local well-known chefs, cooking and serving some classical dishes with a modern twist. The team here at Highlands College is looking forward to showcasing what Jersey has to offer with their up and coming chefs and hospitality students.”
Dave Chalk, Jersey Craft Guild of Chefs added: “At the Craft Guild we believe strongly in the development of the next generation of caterers, which is why we have devised Heat in partnership with Highlands College, PACE and Freedom Media. Jersey is one of the most foodie destinations in Britain, and we are not short of locally produced, reared and caught produce all year round - a selection of which you will taste throughout this competition.”
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