YOUNG cooks from Colchester have reached the regional finals of a prestigious competition.

Cookery students at Colchester Institute have beaten off rival colleges to reach the next stage of the Nestle Toque d’Or competition.

In the first round, the students had to impress judges with a concept for a new restaurant and explain how it would work in reality.

They decided to go for a traditional British restaurant concept, but embracing multicultural flavours and tastes.

Their menu included Cullen skink with tempura oysters sourced from Mersea, followed by spiced local lamb hot pot with flavours from north Africa.

Should the students win the regional heat next Friday, they would be one of five teams to reach the grand finals, where they would face the daunting task of serving 100 diners during the BBC Good Food Show at the Birmingham NEC this summer.

If they are successful they will follow in the footsteps of Steve Grove, who took a catering course at the college and went on to win MasterChef in 2009. Jason Sant, lecturer in advanced diploma for professional cookery at Colchester Institute, said: “I am extremely proud of the students for reaching this stage.

“Due to the prestige of the Toque d’Or, I know many colleges would have entered, so just to get to here is immense.

“It has also given the students a chance to show off their skills in the kitchen and restaurant, and promote the great local produce we have at our disposal. I can’t wait for the judging, which takes place on the February 18.”