A CULINARY duel took place at Cornwall College last Monday and only one team could walk away as supreme master-chef.

Six teams took part in this year's Cornish Challenge, with eventual winners being last year's runners up, the team from Tresco Estate, on the Isles of Scilly.

Coming in a close second was Manning's Restaurant, from the Royal Hotel in Truro, with St Austell Brewery in third.

Euan Rodger, from the winning team, said: "We came in a close second last year, so we're over the moon to have won this time around. It's a fantastic result and it just goes to show you can't beat using local ingredients."

Ian Doble, from organisers Cornwall Catering 2000, believed that this year's event had been a huge success and had gone a long way to promoting catering as a career in Cornwall.

Headteacher of Penair School in Truro, Barbara Vann, who was one of the guest speakers, added: "The world of food in Cornwall has a very good reputation and catering is an extremely worthwhile and exciting career. I have a passionate belief in the skills and talent of Cornwall."

The other guest speakers were principal of the college Dr Alan Stanhope, editor of Restaurant Magazine Joe Warwick, estates director of St Austell Brewery Adam Luck and Cornwall Taste of the West representative Sue Sargent.

The evening was compered by Mark Pilgrim, form the Meudon Hotel near Falmouth. Prizes were also given to catering students at the college, for their 'front of house' service skills.

Lorna Dunstan, course manager for the professional craft programme at the college, said: "Congratulations to these students, who I thought all worked very, very hard. We've got an excellent cohort of youngsters studying at the moment. They really appreciate that food service and kitchen skills go hand in hand and understand the reasons why both aspects of the industry are important."