Rising stars
With Katie Blundell of Hugh Baird College who recently won Nestle Professional’s 2025 Front of House Toque d’Or award.
Katie Blundell recently won Nestle Professional’s 2025 Front of House (FOH) Toque d'Or award (see page 10). Mentored and guided by a distinguished panel of judges, including Michelin-star chef Adam Handling MBE and his FOH director George Hersey, the final 12 showcased their skills, creativity and passion across five days of real-life challenges focused on sustainability. These covered topics such as food provenance, regenerative agriculture and how hospitality plays an important role in supporting communities.
A key highlight of the week was a bespoke NHS culinary challenge held at London’s St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where finalists served a grab-and-go style lunch to more than 100 frontline staff. The FOH finalists paired food prepared by the BOH competitors with a beverage of their choice.
It culminated with a private dinner at Adam Handling’s Michelin-starred Frog in Covent Garden and the prestigious Fine Dining Challenge, which took place at Cord by Le Cordon Bleu. Paired into six teams of two, the finalists created and served a three-course sustainable menu with matching English wines to the judges.
What made you want to work in hospitality?
What interests me about working in the hospitality industry is its constant evolution. I appreciate being consistently challenged to adapt and acquire new skills.
I also value the direct connection that hospitality offers with customers, and I enjoy witnessing the immediate impact of my efforts in the smiles, satisfaction and positive feedback from guests. This sense of making a positive impact on somebody’s experience is incredibly rewarding and provides me with a strong sense of purpose within my workplace.
How did you come to apply for the competition?
I applied for Toque d'Or 2025 through my college. They recommended the competition, believing it would be a great opportunity for me to showcase the skills I've developed.
How did you find competing?
Competing in Toque D’Or 2025 was a fantastic experience. I really appreciated how helpful everyone was, and I especially loved the genuine friendships I have made. It honestly felt less like a competition and more like a group of friends sharing their passion and skills.
How did it feel when you found out you had won the award?
Winning the competition was a complete shock. I felt incredibly proud to represent my college and demonstrate the exceptional quality of education I have received.
Why do you think you won?
Winning was unexpected, and I can't pinpoint exactly why I did, but I'm honoured to have competed alongside such talented individuals. I believe teamwork was crucial to my success, as it's such an important element in this type of competition. I’m also incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support I received, which kept me going even when I doubted myself.
What do you want to do in the future?
While my career path is still unclear, I know that I’m driven to find a role that pushes me and allows for continuous development. The idea of constantly learning and acquiring new skills is really appealing to me.
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