CATERING students successfully conquered the heat of the kitchen in a cook-off competition that gave them their first real taste of restaurant life.

Darlington College catering students tested their mettle preparing restaurant standard food for about 60 guests at the college’s Glasshouse Restaurant.

The Hell’s Kitchen competition saw two teams of catering students use the college kitchens and a special field facility set up by Army chefs from Catterick Garrison.

For the 19 students taking part it was the first opportunity to experience the real pressures of the kitchen.

They were judged by professional chefs on the quality of their food, presentation skills and how they worked under pressure.

Students produced a range of dishes including Mongolian salmon, slow roasted belly pork, pan-fried scallops with butternut squash and oven baked asparagus and tomato risotto.

Special guests included Danny Parker, head chef at House of Tides in Newcastle, a former catering student at the college who appeared on the BBC programme MasterChef the Professionals', reaching the semi-finals.

He was accompanied by head chef Paul Rowntree, from The Keys Restaurant, Darlington.

Team B was under the watchful eye of Darlington College tutor Lee Coutts while Team A was under the command of Army Masterchef Sgt Pete Kell.

Mr Coutts, himself a former Army chef, said: “It was a fantastic event for all concerned and the students really rose to the challenge.

“We received great compliments from guests about the food and service and we will definitely run it again next year with a few tweaks.

"Working alongside local respected professional chefs, really lifted students and has inspired them for the future.”