2021 Toque d'Or competition shortlist revealed

Nestlé Professional has announced the shortlist of competitors for the heats of the 2021 Toque d'Or competition with a record-breaking 956 entries from 40 colleges and 40 businesses.

The heats will welcome 112 students, apprentices and young professionals with the tasks for the back of house competitors set by MasterChef: The Professionals, Festive Knockout winner Louisa Ellis requiring competitors to create their own vegetarian sauce to accompany her gnocchi dish and demonstrate why it is vegetarian, nutritious and sustainable.

The front of house competitors will need to create a non-alcoholic, mixed drink based on a high-quality jasmine green tea. Educator and drinks expert Alison Taffs will be looking for competitors to consider the nutritional content in their drinks by keeping sugar levels to a minimum.

All competitors will be asked to bring their dishes and drinks to life through a digital challenge asking them to create a video, a series of stories and a post to present and promote their creations on 15 April.

Katya Simmons, managing director of Nestlé Professional UK&I, said: "In what has been a challenging year for hospitality, I am delighted with the standard of entries we have received.

"The passion and dedication of each competitor is a credit to our industry, and I am excited to welcome them to the heats. We are proud to support the next generation and provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow in their career. Good luck to all of the 2021 competitors."

Timeline: • Heat task communicated – 26 March • Virtual cooking challenge to take place – 15 April
• Finalists announced – 30 April • Grand finals hosted – w/c 28 June • Awards (on the last day of the finals) - w/c 28 June • Awards broadcast – July 2021

For more information and to see the full list of shortlisted competitors, please click here.