Jun Ming Yee and Nathan Vasanthan holding certificates with two other officials.
Jun Ming Yee and Nathan Vasanthan holding certificates with two other officials.

University of West London Culinary Arts Management student wins prestigious title

Intro

A BSc Culinary Arts Management student at the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT), Jun Ming Yee and mentor lecturer Nathan Vasanthan won the 2023 Entente Cordiale Lauréat title with LGCHT’s French partner college, Lycée Jeanne et Paul Augier. 

Main body

Entente Cordiale, a Franco-British culinary competition, was launched by Michel Bourdin in collaboration with the Escoffier Foundation 19 years ago. It celebrates the culinary expertise of students on both sides of the English Channel.  Teams are tasked with producing a two-course menu for four covers within a time of three hours. This year’s competition took place in Nice, in the south of France on 23 March. 

Each year, four teams – each made up of one UK and one French-based student - go head-to-head in the competition where they are required to demonstrate a modern interpretation of Escoffier’s classics. The main course competition dish for 2023 was poulet sauté Beaulieu, chateau potatoes, and purple artichoke from Escoffier’s ‘Le Guide Culinaire’. For the second course, students were tasked with creating a chocolate-themed dessert, drawing on their own creativity.

Nathan said:

We are so proud of our student, Jun Ming Yee, and our partner college’s student Zamira Coupiev. Our team scored the highest thanks to our exceptional work, craft skills and innovation, as well as demonstrating the best flavour balance and most effective time management.” 

This year’s judging panel included Michel Escoffier, the great-grandson of August Escoffier and the chairman of August Escoffier Foundation and Daniel Ayton, president of Disciple d’Escoffier, UK.  

Nathan added:

This prestigious competition allows our students to enhance their cultural, culinary and educational knowledge and know-how of European gastronomy. Furthermore, it provides a valuable opportunity for students and staff to network and make lifelong professional relationships and find opportunities for further studies or career advancement internationally."  

LGCHT is looking forward to welcoming the Entente Cordiale to the University of West London as hosts in 2024. Watch the space! 

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