Top Bristol Chefs Inspire Next Generation of Talent

Recently, five of Bristol’s most highly-skilled chefs helped 40 young people from three catering colleges serve up a mouth-watering meal for 70 diners in one of the most famed catering colleges in the country.

Nearly £500 was raised to support young people with travel costs in accessing work experience, essential equipment and helping colleges to fund employer trips, visits and feeder school travel to college events.

Dishing on the day

The City of Bristol College opened up three of its teaching kitchens to the cream of the culinary profession; alumni from the award-winning college include Josh Eggleton (The Pony & Trap), Peter Sanchez-Iglesias (Casamia) and Martin Burge (Farncombe Estate).

Heads of School for service industries, catering and hospitality from three colleges: City of Bristol College, Weston College and Coleg Gwent, each brought a team of front of house and kitchen students to work in the kitchens with the visiting chefs and a thoroughly inspirational day was had by all.

Guiding the students from the three participating colleges on the day were Elisabeth Julienne from Gambas on the starter, Saravanan Nambirajan and Raju Raju from The Mint Room on the fish course, Louise McCrimmon from Harvey Nichols on the meat course and Istvan Ulmann from Berwick Lodge on dessert. Presiding at the occasion ‘front of house’ was the fantastic Sarah Arikan, Owner of Berwick Lodge and Front of House expert.

All ingredients and drinks for the lunch were kindly sponsored by Koppert Cress, Fish for Thought, Walter Rose & Son, Brindisa and Santa Maria.

The lunch was organised to raise funds for The Chefs’ Forum Educational Foundation CIC.

What is the Chef’s Forum?

It’s an organisation incorporated by Catherine Farinha and Alexandra Duncan in October 2016 to raise vital funds to help disadvantaged young people to enter the hospitality business, by linking them up with employers and providing essential support and equipment.
The Chefs’ Forum hosted the Chefs’ Lunch in what is now the seventh year of The Chefs’ Forum. City of Bristol College underlined its commitment to the initiative in inspiring young chefs, enriching their learning and forging strong links with leading employers within the industry.

Serving up success

Together, the chefs and students created and served a four-course meal for around 70 professionals from the catering industry who were all there to get in touch with the next generation of talent whilst catching up with their peers and suppliers.
Helen Lawless, Head of School (Services to People), said: “This was a great opportunity for our learners to showcase the skills and experience they’ve developed in college to the experts and industry professionals at the forum. The food and service was impeccable and our learners feel more inspired after such a successful event.”

Kevin Fairlie, Lecturer, Crosskeys campus, said: “I would say that this event was organised by the chefs’ forum to inspire young chefs/food service students, giving them the chance to work alongside industry professionals. “The standards were very high and Coleg Gwent students represented the college admirably. Well done to those students who took part, you did us proud.The whole event was very inspiring and comments about our students from some of the organisers were extremely complimentary”, added Kevin.