Under the tutelage of lecturer Robbie Phillips, the winning team (pictured), which consisted of Erin Sweeney, Jordan McKenzie and Lee Christie, came out on top in the final where they were required to cook a three-course, three-cover menu in 90 minutes.

While the judges were incredibly impressed with the level of skills, professionalism and creativity on show from all 10 teams, it was London’s Westminster Kingsway College and Northern Ireland’s South Eastern Regional College that finished second and third respectively on the day.

This year’s theme, ‘Around the World in Three Spices’, meant teams had to use a different fresh or ground spice in each of their courses.

In addition to taking home the coveted title, members of the City of Glasgow College team each won a bespoke set of Flint & Flame knives, a trip to the 2018 Universal Cookery & Food Festival, Westlands, in September 2018 and one night’s accommodation and dinner at Michelin-starred restaurant Simpsons in Kenilworth.

Emma Holden, organiser of the Country Range Student Chef Challenge, said: “Huge congratulations to the City of Glasgow College team on winning this year’s hotly-contested competition. Not only did Erin, Jordan and Lee show they could handle the pressure of cooking in front of a live exhibition audience but their dishes were incredible and wowed the judges when it came to taste. The standard shown in this year’s competition has been amazing so a big thanks to all the teams and lecturers for all their effort.”

In addition to competing for the Country Range Student Chef Challenge title, the 10 teams were marked as part of Hotelympia’s Salon Culinaire by international judging standards, with Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit certificates being handed out accordingly. The full list of teams and awards are:
City of Glasgow College: Silver – Best in Class – Country Range Student Chef Challenge Champions 2018
Westminster Kingsway College: Silver – Country Range Student Chef Challenge Second Place 2018
South Eastern Regional College: Silver – Country Range Student Chef Challenge Third Place 2018
University of Derby: Bronze
Highbury College: Bronze
Loughborough College: Bronze
Newbury College: Bronze
North East Scotland College: Bronze
East Kent College: Merit
Ayrshire College: Merit