West Notts' winning dishes are fit for the troops
Posted: 26 June 2018
It was a quick march from the kitchens to the field for trainee chefs at West Nottinghamshire College when they scooped a first prize trophy in an army catering challenge.
A group of eleven catering students visited the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham to take part in a range of activities with other regional colleges.
The students were introduced to outdoor survival skills during an exciting inter-college Army contest in May.
With students from Grantham College, Loughborough College, Brooksby College in Melton and West Nottinghamshire College, the young chefs watched outdoor cookery demonstrations and learnt how dishes are made from ration pack ingredients, created with techniques used by British Army caterers all over the world; including cooking with diesel powered ovens and fire pits.
The students then had the opportunity to test their catering skills by cooking up a three-course meal fit for troops in just 40 minutes – with West Notts winning the cookery challenge.
The trainee chefs cooked and served-up pasta carbonara for starters, battered pork and risotto for main course followed by apple sponge and custard. The finished dishes were judged by Army staff at the event.
West Notts catering tutor Neil Wilson said: “Our students worked extremely well in their three teams. They really enjoyed the challenge – they put their game faces on and showed off their professionalism and skills.
“Getting the first place trophy was outstanding and very well-earned. They went on to do very well in the other challenges set on the day using plenty of initiative and creativity.”
The students, who are working towards the Level 2 Technical Certificate and Level 2 and 3 Professional Cookery NVQs, also took part in team building exercises and demonstrations of survival skills.
Groups also carried out a mock hand-grenade throwing challenge and a problem-solving and logistics task which had them carrying an ammunitions box over a wall. A cake decorating exercise was also enjoyed, to test their catering skills again.