MORE than 100 teenagers from Forest schools were given an insight into the world of professional catering by some of the region’s top chefs – including a MasterChef: The Professionals finalist.
The Chefs’ Forum Academy visited Gloucestershire College’s Forest of Dean campus at Five Acres to showcase how rewarding and exciting a career in the catering and hospitality sector can be, and inspire young chefs and industry stars of the future.
Top chefs from across the south of the UK have joined forces with local catering colleges to support the next generation of young chefs.
The aim is to mentor, share ideas, motivate, and inspire the talent of tomorrow.
Year 10 and 11 students from local schools including Dene Magna in Mitcheldean, Forest High School in Cinderford, Dean Academy in Lydney and Newent Community School, attended the showcase.
They were welcomed with themed, non-alcoholic cocktails created and served by Gloucestershire College students, including a Royal Forest raspberry spritzer and a Royal Forest mock mojito. The drinks were served alongside canapés prepared by college students, chief lecturer, Matt Stead, and professional chefs from the Chefs’ Forum.
Before a culinary showcase began, the young guests were introduced to the catering and hospitality industry, and the careers that a qualification in the sector could lead to, by Nicki Cotton, the human resources manager of the Lucknam Park hotel and spa near Chippenham in Wiltshire.
Jack Cook, a fourth generation butcher who works at Walter Rose and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire started the skills showcase with a butchery demonstration.
The meat expertly cut by Jack was used by Ross Hunter, the head chef at Backwell House near Bristol, to create a delicious dish.
Things heated up – or rather cooled down dramatically – for the next demonstration, in which Cardiff-based chef Stephen Gomes of Moksh, showcased how a curry could be taken to the next level with the use of liquid nitrogen.
Following his impressive display, the guests were introduced to the world of fish by MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Elly Wentworth from Lucknam Park, who created a delicious dish to taste.
The pupils also got to taste a ‘haute dog’ which featured delicious sausages made at Walter Rose and Son.
A tapas demonstration by renowned chef Elisabeth Julienne, who is head chef of The Lazy Dog in Bristol, was followed by Ross Hunter returning to the stage to prepare the sweet.
A flythrough of the new Forest of Dean cam-
pus, currently under construction in Cinderford, was shown by site principal Sandra Tyrrell to showcase the facilities that students joining from September 2018 will benefit from.
Catering and hospitality students will learn in industry-standard kitchens and there will be a purpose-built, commercial restaurant.
The Year 10 and 11 students also had the opportunity to speak to representatives from the Chefs’ Forum and college lecturers about careers in the industry, learning at Gloucestershire College and the new campus, before heading back to their schools.
•For more photographs, see this week’s Review.