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A talented trio from Suffolk New College has secured a place in the prestigious UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year finals, competing against the country's best hospitality students.
Why it matters: The competition, established in 2012, is a significant achievement for aspiring hospitality professionals, with the winners receiving a three-day trip to San Sebastien in Spain.
The details: The team will travel to the Skills for Chefs conference in Sheffield on 25 June, where they will compete against four other finalist teams.
The Suffolk New College team consists of:
Davide Oggero, 19, from Ipswich, a level three pastry and confectionary student who also works at The Greyhound in Pettistree
Brandon Dunnett, 17, from Ipswich, a level three cookery student who works at Venue 16 Steakhouse near Tuddenham
Heaven Wilson, 18, from Ipswich, a level three supervisory student handling front of house responsibilities
What they're saying: "We went to Winchester for the semi-finals and we cooked three dishes. It took three and a half hours. We were told we had the best dessert. It would be amazing to become the best restaurant team in the country," said Oggero, who has previously won best use of British Beef and the best dish award in the competition.
Dunnett highlighted the extensive preparation behind their success: "We had practised so many times we were able to focus and keep our heads. We've had loads of constant support from the college and lots of professionals who have come in and tasted our dishes to help us elevate them."
Wilson, who handled the front of house duties, added: "I did the front of house, laid the table, made a mocktail, served the dishes and then did some wine pairing. During this, I have learnt that there are loads of different ways you can do front of house. We are a good team and we communicate well."
For context: The team is coached by Daniel Russell-Poole, a lecturer at Suffolk New College who previously worked as head chef at The Brewers in Rattlesden and The Angel in Stoke by Nayland.
"Our students have had a number of great successes over the last two years and I'm so proud of the team. To win this accolade would be the icing on the cake," said Russell-Poole.
The bottom line: This achievement reflects the incredibly high standard of hospitality training at the college, with students demonstrating both technical skills and teamwork as they prepare to compete against the best young talent in the country. Good luck, Davide, Brandon and Heaven.
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