12th April 2013
Autumn 2009 - College of champions
When it comes to talent, North Devon College has the winning formula.
Students and staff at North Devon College have much to be proud of – especially lately.
This tertiary college in Barnstaple, which sits atop a hill with views of the town as well as across the river Taw’s estuary, has been causing a stir this year by winning the Nestlé Toque d’Or 2009 competition at a grand ceremony held to announce the victorious team at the O2 arena.
Having reached the final twice in a row, college lecturers Tom Lewis and Nicola Shapland, along with catering and hospitality students Emma Colwill, Tom Turner, Max Bowen, Karl Partridge, Mike Stern and James Ballantyne made sure it was a case of third time lucky for the college.
“This was a fantastic achievement for the students,” says Lewis. “They worked extremely hard and we are very proud of their achievements, cementing the college as having one of the leading catering sections in the country.”
North Devon College has 12 dedicated lecturers for a wide range of hospitality and catering courses including supervision BTEC National Certificate, NVQ Level 1 and 2, Advanced NVQ, Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprentice, and Professional Diploma.
The college boasts two modern full functioning training kitchens in which its students learn a variety of catering skills to prepare them for working life in the fast paced catering industry.
The Tawstock is the training restaurant based at its main site in Barnstaple. Recently it had a makeover and now has a more contemporary interior.
Catering and hospitality staff members say it “provides a vibrant atmosphere where great food is served by efficient and friendly students”.
The students, which are overseen by a team of lecturers, say the restaurant is great value for money: all food items on offer have been made from fresh, locally sourced produce where possible, and all items are made on the premises including homemade bread and ice cream.
Students also carry out work experience placements as part of their courses and this includes opportunities across Europe in countries such as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany.
Over the years, students have also been given the opportunity to work in various Michelin star restaurants based in the UK. These include Petrus Restaurant and Michael Caines’ Gidleigh Park Hotel in south Devon, both with two Michelin stars.
The college also runs an annual First Year Cooking Competition for its full time students. Guests at this year’s competition included North Devon’s only Michelin starred chef, Mark Dodson of the Mason Arms in Knowstone.
Staff in the hospitality department say they are most proud of European work experience opportunities, the quality of the service and the food produced in Tawstock that attracts new and regular customers every week, plus the fact that many of its students have gone on to work in Michelin starred establishments including Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck.
Having developed a taste for competitions, the college has no intentions of stopping now. Its future plans include entering more competitions such as the Royal Navy contest in Plymouth, Devon, and it intends to have another bash at Nestlé Toque d’Or 2010.
This tertiary college in Barnstaple, which sits atop a hill with views of the town as well as across the river Taw’s estuary, has been causing a stir this year by winning the Nestlé Toque d’Or 2009 competition at a grand ceremony held to announce the victorious team at the O2 arena.
Having reached the final twice in a row, college lecturers Tom Lewis and Nicola Shapland, along with catering and hospitality students Emma Colwill, Tom Turner, Max Bowen, Karl Partridge, Mike Stern and James Ballantyne made sure it was a case of third time lucky for the college.
“This was a fantastic achievement for the students,” says Lewis. “They worked extremely hard and we are very proud of their achievements, cementing the college as having one of the leading catering sections in the country.”
North Devon College has 12 dedicated lecturers for a wide range of hospitality and catering courses including supervision BTEC National Certificate, NVQ Level 1 and 2, Advanced NVQ, Apprenticeship/Advanced Apprentice, and Professional Diploma.
The college boasts two modern full functioning training kitchens in which its students learn a variety of catering skills to prepare them for working life in the fast paced catering industry.
The Tawstock is the training restaurant based at its main site in Barnstaple. Recently it had a makeover and now has a more contemporary interior.
Catering and hospitality staff members say it “provides a vibrant atmosphere where great food is served by efficient and friendly students”.
The students, which are overseen by a team of lecturers, say the restaurant is great value for money: all food items on offer have been made from fresh, locally sourced produce where possible, and all items are made on the premises including homemade bread and ice cream.
Students also carry out work experience placements as part of their courses and this includes opportunities across Europe in countries such as Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany.
Over the years, students have also been given the opportunity to work in various Michelin star restaurants based in the UK. These include Petrus Restaurant and Michael Caines’ Gidleigh Park Hotel in south Devon, both with two Michelin stars.
The college also runs an annual First Year Cooking Competition for its full time students. Guests at this year’s competition included North Devon’s only Michelin starred chef, Mark Dodson of the Mason Arms in Knowstone.
Staff in the hospitality department say they are most proud of European work experience opportunities, the quality of the service and the food produced in Tawstock that attracts new and regular customers every week, plus the fact that many of its students have gone on to work in Michelin starred establishments including Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck.
Having developed a taste for competitions, the college has no intentions of stopping now. Its future plans include entering more competitions such as the Royal Navy contest in Plymouth, Devon, and it intends to have another bash at Nestlé Toque d’Or 2010.