Westminster Kingsway College Chef Lecturers have competed at the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie 2011 (Pastry World Cup) at the International Food Fair ‘Sirha’ in Lyon, France and achieved a top ten place in the world. The UK team were awarded ninth place in the competition while also winning an additional award for Best Promotional Campaign. First place overall was awarded to the team from Spain.
This was the first time since 2003 that the UK was represented in the final of this prestigious event. Westminster Kingsway College Chef Lecturers Javier Mercado and Chris Loder competed alongside UK team President, Benoit Blin, Executive Pastry Chef at two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire and team member, Johannes Bonin, Pastry Chef at The Connaught Hotel in London. The UK team were supported at the event by students and staff from Westminster Kingsway College who had travelled to France for the event.
The marathon competition followed months of preparation by the UK team in the kitchens at Westminster Kingsway College, where they had practised their entries for each category. Each team in the competition had 9 hours to produce an ice sculpture, sugar sculpture, chocolate sculpture, chocolate cake, frozen dessert and plated dessert. The UK team was also recognised for their ‘excellent’ promotional campaign, particularly their fundraising events, promotional poster and online information for its supporters.
Westminster Kingsway College Chef Lecturer Javier Mercado said: “This competition is one that I’ve always wanted to take part in ever since I first heard about it when I was at culinary school because it is the most renowned pastry competition in the world – so to have actually taken part has realised that ambition. I hope that as the students at Westminster Kingsway have been able to follow our progress from the initial designs to going to watch us at Lyon, that it will inspire them to enter competitions in the future.”
The Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie
The Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie takes place every 2 years and this is the 12th competition. The 20 countries competing in the Pastry World Cup 2011 are: Belgium, South Korea, United States, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Russia, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Morocco, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, China, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay.
Westminster Kingsway College has an excellent reputation within the hospitality and catering industry with many famous alumni across the sector. The School of Hospitality has celebrated its 100th anniversary and the College will build on the successes of the past to create an exciting future for our students. The College offers a unique opportunity to study in central London for vocational qualifications that are tailored direct to employment opportunities. For further information about the wide range of Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses at Westminster Kingsway College, please visit www.westking.ac.uk.
