Registrations to open for Toque d’Or 2020
12th September 2019

Registration to open for Toque d’Or 2020

Written by: Edward Waddell
Registration for the Nestle Professional Toque d’Or competition for aspiring hospitality professionals will open on 19 September 2019.

This will be the 32nd edition of the competition that encourages work-based learning. Colleges are invited to enter individual chefs and front of house students rather than teams for the 2020 competition.   

Entrants will be able to register online via the new website, making entry quick and simple. The registration for the 2020 Toque d’Or closes on 22 November 2019.

Katya Simmons, managing director of Nestlé Professional UK&I said: “Toque d’Or is constantly evolving and this year is no exception.

“The competition is committed to helping to build a sustainable future for the hospitality industry and that’s why we’re so passionate about driving skills development both back and front of house.”

The winners of the 2019 Toque d’Or competition were University College Birmingham and apprentice Drew Dawson from The Ned.

It is the fifth time University College Birmingham has won the accolade since 2010, most recently picking up the title in 2017.

The 2019 Toque d’Or winners have just returned from a trip to Bilbao and San Sebastian in Spain’s Basque region. The winners spent four days on a ‘gastronomic journey’ that included a Basque cider sampling session and a tour of three Michelin starred restaurant Arzak from Elena Arzak herself.

Drew Dawson, 2019 apprentice winner, added: “It was an absolutely superb trip. I learnt so much. We explored the culture and got to see lots of different sides of the hospitality industry.”

Over the last three decades the Toque d’Or has helped support the careers of over 8,000 contestants and worked with ‘high profile chefs’ including Simon Hulstone, James Tanner and Adam Bateman.     

Yasmine Selwood, from University college Birmingham’s 2019 winning team, commented: “If there was somebody who wanted to enter the competition, I would say to them absolutely go for it…it’s fantastic!

“You’re going to have the most incredible experience from start to finish, whether you get all the way through or only part way through.”

To enter the Toque d’Or 2020, visit: www.nestleprofessional.co.uk/toque-dor