Students prepare to step in to Hell's kitchen

Student catering teams from MidKent College’s Medway Campus are going head-to-head in their first ever Hell’s Kitchen competition.

Based on Gordon Ramsay’s hit show of the same name, the student cook-off sees three teams competing to impress guest diners with the high standard of their dishes. Students have already battled it out in the opening heats of the competition - which marks the climax of the 09/10 academic year - and are now looking forward to the grand final, set to take place at the Medway Campus on Thursday May 27, between 7.30 and 9.30pm.

Each team prepares its own three course menu for 50 people, says trainee-chef James Paolillo. “We invite the diners – including family, friends and teachers – to order from any menu and mark each dish out of ten,” said the 17 year old from Sheerness. “The team with the most points then wins.”

College chef instructor Sean Stratton said: “The final will test the winning team’s ability to reproduce classic dishes. They will have to show an understanding of a range of techniques and show their own flair when garnishing the final dishes. On top of all this, the final will see them cooking live in front of their customers on three huge barbeques.

“The restaurant will be split into three different areas, each colour coded to represent a different team. The customers will not know who is in which team or who is cooking their food. It’s going to be an exciting night.”