Teams battle for a place in Nestlé Toque final

Sixteen teams of students from colleges all over the UK have been selected to do battle for a place in the Grand Final of the Nestlé Toque d'Or competition later this year.

At the heats, being held at Hotelympia in February, each of the teams will take over the kitchens of La Parade des Chefs for three hours to prepare and serve a three-course menu to 20 invited guests.

Just five teams will make it through to the Grand Final to decide who will take the title of 2008 champions and a place on the Toque d'Or study tour.

Last year's champions Blackpool and the Fylde college, whose restaurant Seventh Floor at the Palace Casino inspired by Blackpool's bid to host a Las Vegas style supercasino won the judges' vote, are back this year with another team in a bid to retain the title.

The final 16

Blackpool and the Fylde College
Carlisle College
City College, Plymouth
City of Bristol College
Glasgow Metropolitan College
Lewisham College, London (two teams)
North Devon College, Barnstaple
North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
Southgate College, London
South Kent College, Folkestone
South West College, Omagh
Thanet College, Kent
Trafford College, Greater Manchester
Westminster Kingsway College, London
Wiltshire College, Salisbury

Tickets to Hotelympia cost £30 but you can book a free ticket by pre-registering online for the UK's premier hospitality and food service event, taking place from Sunday 17- Thursday 21 February at ExCeL, London.

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