Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 11481
l This year the Nestlé Foodservice Toque d'Or competition received more than 120 entrants which were whittled down to 40 - 10 from each of four UK regions (Northern, Southern, Western, and Scotland and Northern Ireland).
l The Western regional finalists have been adopted by Roux Fine Dining, Southern by Gardner Merchant, Northern by Sutcliffe Catering UK, and Scotland and Northern Ireland by Quadrant.
l The 40 finalists will compete in the regional heats in front of live audiences at Le Salon Culinaire at Hotelympia '98.
l Five teams of two will go through from this to the grand final cook-off which will take place on 6-7 April at the Café Royal, London. Chef mentors at this stage will be John Benson-Smith of Hazlewood Castle, Mike Picken of Gleneagles, John Williams of Claridge's, and Pierre Chevillard of Chewton Glen. The awards presentation lunch will be held at London's Dorchester hotel on 8 April.
l Grand final winners collect the Nestlé Toque d'Or trophy, £5,000-worth of catering equipment for their college, and a two-day visit to L'Ecole des Arts Culinaires et de l'Hôtellerie, Lyons, France, with spending money.
