A COOKERY double-act have triumphed in an inter-college Patisserie competition.

Florentina Dumitrescu and Archie Ellis, who are studying the VRQ Professional Chef Diploma at Colchester Institute, represented the College in the four-hour bake-off on Friday March 2.

Mentored by the College’s Hospitality & Food Studies Lecturer, Stephanie Conway, the budding chefs competed against Hertford Regional College, West Herts College, Harlow College and South Essex College.

The duo’s pallet-awakening combination of Tiptree gin-infused Raspberry St.Honare, Buttermilk Pannacotta and passionfruit-scented Milk Chocolate Mousse, however, was enough to impress 2013’s National Chef of the Year, Hayden Groves, who subsequently crowned them champions.

Stephanie Conway, Lecturer in Hospitality & Food Studies said: “I could not be more proud of Archie and Flo. They have worked tirelessly to perfect their dishes, often staying at college late until the evening. This was the first time we entered the competition so I am truly delighted with the result.”

With sites in Colchester, Clacton, Braintree and Dovercourt, Colchester Institute is Essex’s largest vocational college.