Gordon Ramsay can eat his heart out – or if he really wants to be amazed, eat the culinary creations of The Chef in Waiting at Milton Keynes College.

The restaurant which serves as a training facility for students also serves delicious dishes to the public – ones that are now officially award-winning.

After entering the national vocational contest, WorldSkills UK, to find the country's best up-and-coming chefs, the students this week walked away with beaming smiles and glittering medals.

Daniel Treadwell won silver, as did Emma Harris for napkin folds. Jade Higginson achieved silver overall and bronze for marzipan modelling, while Callum Graham and Ben Wheeler added bronze awards to the college's tally.

But the trophies are just the icing on the cake, says Mark Lewis, Milton Keynes College's head of catering: "I'm extremely proud of all our students – they have performed brilliantly in this competition and have set a really high standard," said Mark.

"We're building a really impressive reputation for the catering and hospitality course at Milton Keynes College and the experience of this competition will be a big benefit to the students."

Tony Oxley, the course's team manager, is the former chef director of a chain of prestigious hotels.

Said Tony: "We've been open for almost eight years now and in many ways Chef in Waiting is run as a normal commercial restaurant, with four lunch and three evening services a week.

"We have level 1 and 2 students of vocationally recognised qualifications – VRQs – which result in a diploma in professional cookery, as well as students taking level 3 national vocational qualification.

"We offer delicious, freshly prepared food. Students learn the principles of cooking. They also have to serve customers."
Possibly the best proof of the pudding – and starter and main course for that matter – is the diner's view.

Reader Ronald Hewett said: "Having visited for one of their theme nights the food was excellent and very affordable but there were only seven customers there. I'm sure more people would visit if they knew."

>> The Chef in Waiting restaurant offers two-course lunch menus from £7 and three or even four-course evening menus from £12.50, with many vegetarian dishes.

It is based at Milton Keynes College's Bletchley campus in Sherwood Drive - call MK 637373.

>> Citizen First video reporter Natalee Hazelwood filmed the restaurant. Click on the above link to watch the exclusive video.