Teams from South Lanarkshire College, Mid Kent College, Westminster Kingsway College, South Eastern Regional College, Stratford upon Avon College, Herefordshire and Ludlow College, Sheffield City College and Farnborough College of Technology will now meet in the cook-off.

They reached the final following regional heats judged by leading chefs including Mark Irish, head of food development at Brakes, and Craft Guild of Chefs chairman Christopher Basten, where they served dishes based around the competition’s ‘Back to Basics’ challenge.

As well as preparing innovative and tasty dishes, the students were also required to show exceptional technique, the ability to work as a team, use local and regional ingredients, and demonstrate their ability to cost a menu.

According to the judges, the standard of entries to this year’s challenge, which is sponsored by BD Foods and ABP Food Group and supported by the Craft Guild, was exceptional. With just one hour and 45 minutes to create their three-course signature menu, the three-person teams of full-time catering and hospitality students, wowed the judges with dishes such as sugar-cured mackerel with rhubarb and ginger; braised pig cheeks; roasted fillet of pork, glazed carrots, charred leeks, black pudding filled pommes soufflé and cider jus; and egg custard, spiced plum compote, buttered nutmeg wafer and meringue.

Irish said: “The standard of the students this year has been unbelievable and it’s great to see that the industry has some fantastic talent coming through. All the teams have really turned up the heat in the kitchen to showcase their catering talents. We’re really looking forward to seeing how they perform against each other in the final.”

The final will take place at Hotelympia’s Salon Culinaire at ExCeL in London. The winning team will receive prizes including a five-day work experience week, along with an invitation to join and assist the Craft Guild of Chefs culinary team at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg – both hosted by Basten.

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