This year teams consisting of three full-time catering and hospitality college students were asked to create a three-course menu inspired by the theme ‘Going Global with World Cuisine’ in just one hour and 45 minutes.

After an initial paper judging round, short-listed teams competed at six live regional heats held across the UK. A panel of expert judges, including Mark Irish, head of Brakes development chefs, and Christopher Basten, vice chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs, selected the best teams to cook in the grand final.

These teams will now compete in a live cook off and the team with the highest marks will be crowned the 2012/13 Brakes Student Chef Team Challenge winner and receive a five-day work experience week hosted by Basten, a six-piece Global knife set each, the coveted winners plaque, a commemorative award plate, medals and certificates.

Last year’s winning team – Laura Daniels, Robert Somerville and Jessica Jackson from Manchester College (pictured above) – spent time in the kitchens of Galvin's at Windows Restaurant and Harrods, working under the tutelage of head chefs Andre Garrett and Allister Bishop and their respective teams.

Judge Mark Irish said: “The standard of cooking from all the finalists has been exceptional; we have been especially impressed with the bold approach the students have taken to this year’s theme. It’s going to be a difficult task to select a single winning team from such a talented group.”

The regional winners are:
City of Glasgow College – Vanessa Daley, Michael Sheddon, Neil Rowan
Shrewsbury College – Simon Davies, Karl Hignett, Liam Weatherhead
East Kent College – Joe Barker, Michael Till, Jack Lowe
Westminster Kingsway College – Joshua Dallaway, George Whitelock, Phillip McEnaney
Herefordshire College of Technology – Chloe Dicken, Josie Davies, Ben Dean
Sheffield City College – Adam Eyre, Luke Rhodes, Connor Tracey
South East Regional College (best runner up) – Jonathan McQuade, Riosin McKeown, Ryan Cunningham

• For full details about the Student Chef Team Challenge, visit www.brakesstudentchef.co.uk