WSET has partnered with Nestlé Professional’s Toque d’Or® competition for the last four years, running a Level 1 Award in Wines course for all finalists to give them chance to add a globally recognised qualification to their CVs. This year for the first time, WSET offered a Level 1 Award in Spirits course.
Students took the online course, led by WSET spirits expert Liam Scandrett, in August with bespoke samples provided by Master of Malt.
In its 32nd year, Toque d’Or® is a prestigious UK catering competition for students and apprentices which focuses on both back and front of house skills. For this year’s final earlier in September, the contestants were tasked with designing a menu, marketing strategy, cost plan and growth strategy, resulting in a fully-fledged small business plan. They then had to present their plan to the judges who included James Tanner, acclaimed Chef and Restauranteur; Ruth Hansom, the first female to win Young National Chef of the Year and contestant of this year’s Great British Menu; Alison Taffs, owner of Alison Taffs People Development and The Grape Society; and Robert Smith, Creative Director and Producer at Shuttersmith Media.
To find out more about the competitors’ spirits education journey, watch the video here.
This year’s Toque d’Or® winners were:
- Katherine Altham from Kendal College (Back of house - student)
- Alex Dick from City of Glasgow College (Front of house - student)
- Lily Stock from Boodle’s (Back of house - apprentice)
- Chelsie Robinson from The Cross Keys, Stow (Front of house - apprentice)
