Hospitality students from around the country are gearing up to put it all on the line, as they prepare to battle it out at the 2018 Nestlé Toque d’Or competition. The event, which pits the country’s top culinary and restaurant service talents against each other in a live kitchen cook off, enters its 28th year in 2018.
Organised by NZChefs in conjunction with Nestlé Professional and supported by top organisations involved in the hospitality industry, it’s considered to be the premium competition for the country’s emerging culinary and restaurant service superstars.
Last year saw 10 of the country’s top training institutes each send a team of three to the event. In the gruelling lead up, competitors spent months perfecting menus and routines to earn top marks from the judges. A team from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua took out the coveted title.
To succeed on competition day, teams must prepare and serve six covers of a three-course meal within a set timeframe. They also need to impress a panel of top industry judges who score their efforts against strict World Chefs’ marking criteria.
Nestlé Toque d’Or will be held on Monday 13 August at the Auckland Showgrounds. An awards dinner will be held later in the evening where the winning team will be crowned. Sponsors include Nestlé Professional, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, vegetables.co.nz, Akaroa Salmon, House of Knives, Moffat and NZChefs.
