Moai Caviar – The New Freshly Grown Sea Grape from Koppert Cress

Moai Caviar is known as ‘Umibudo’, the Japanese word for ‘Sea Grapes’ or ‘Green Caviar’. An edible seaweed with tiny bubbles on its stems, which remind us of a small bunch of green grapes or fish roe.  The bubbles break easily on the tongue, releasing a slightly salty taste of southern sea freshness. When used raw it is a visually attractive ingredient with a gel-like, aqueous mouth-feeling.

Until now the sea grapes were only available in preserved brine water. With the Moai Caviar this period came to an end. The preserved version is being harvested on the reefs of the Pacific subtropical waters. Before using this preserved version you have to rinse them in tap water to desalinate, the unique bubble-structure comes back partly. With the alternative, the Koppert Cress grown Moai Caviar, you always have the freshest original experience, special mouth-feeling and is ready-to-use.

Dutch 3-Michelin-star chef Jonnie Boer (De Librije *** – Zwolle, The Netherlands) calls it “The caviar of seaweeds” and is very happy with this Dutch version of this seagrape. Together with chef Nelson Tanate they are Moai Caviar in a recently introduced signature dish with oysters, goat cheese, different pickles and salty vegetables.


Moai Caviar beauty makes it perfect for topping on canapes, in combination with cocktails or as a functional item in several fish, crustacean, shellfish, tempura, sushi, soups, salads or rice dishes. Also in combination with desserts it can be very special.

Rinse lightly, remove access moisture and eat it raw like sashimi. Exposing Moai Caviar quickly to ice water, will enhance the texture and improve the taste. Be careful not to apply dressing from above, because the sea grapes will wither as a result.

The origin of the word ‘Moai’ is derived from a group of elders in Okinawa, Japan, one of the original Blue Zones. Koppert Cress has always been inspired by the Blue Zones. These live-long friends live an extraordinarily better and longer life than almost anyone else in the world.

The origin of the Moai Caviar is traced back to the area of Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In their natural habitat, the plants grow very fast and are an important source of healthy nutrition for the locals. The sea grapes are being used in a traditional way as salty vegetables, contain some valuable nutrients and all parts of the plants are edible.

The introduction is a result of a colleboration between Koppert Cress and Hendrik Starrink, a specialist in underwater vegetables. Hendrik has been working on the Moai Caviar and other crops for a while. The last year we joined forces and started a production facility in the Westland area. The search for other underwater vegetables will be continued.

Moai Caviar is year-round available, grown and transported in saltwater and can easily be stored for up to seven days at room-temperature of 17-25°C. Avoid direct sunlight. Produced in a socially responsible culture, Moai Caviar meets the hygienic kitchen standards. The product is ready to use, as it is grown clean and hygienically.

Read more HERE

West London College Gives Insight into Enrolment in the ‘New Normal’

West London College is celebrating a successful enrolment period in part driven by their “virtual” open day held in July and a new time slot approach that allows students some one-on-one time with lecturers.

The open day was a great success and enabled Denise Charles, Head of Curriculum for Service Industries to showcase the great work she is doing with high profile employers across London via The Chefs’ Forum Academy.  Denise has also been working with The Manchester College to share knowledge and best practice on adapting to the new normal as a college.  This has greatly benefitted both colleges.

West London College filmed the open day so students could access it after the live event.  The take-up has been very pleasing indeed.

Working in conjunction with The Chefs’ Forum has enabled the college to achieve steady registrations despite restrictions hampering normal protocols in giving prospective students a taste of what to expect on embarking on a Hospitality and Catering course at the college.

Denise Charles, Head of Curriculum for Service Industries at West London College, told The Chefs’ Forum:

The Hospitality and Catering Virtual Open Day was a huge success. Not only did we welcome many students to the live event on the day, but many have since watched the film and say it has really helped them with the enrolment process post Covid-19.

“We have seen slow but steady registrations in comparison to previous years and it is great to be able to share the great work we are doing to enrich the curriculum, despite government restrictions being in place.

Our work with The ChefsForum Academy is a major USP for the college as the only college in London to run such an Academy.  We are very much looking forward to working with many great chefs from across London and surrounds as we book weekly masterclasses from mid-September onwards.”

Please click here to see last year’s Chefs’ Forum Academy sessions.

Chefs booked in to teach this year at West London include:

  • Roux Scholar and Head Chef at Cliveden House, Paul O’Neill.
  • Tom Booton, Head Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester.
  • Dipna Anand from Brilliant Restaurant.
  • Chris Underwood from Belmond Cadogan Hotel
  • And many more…

The Chefs’ Forum would like to wish all students and teaching teams the very best as many look forward to a full return to lessons.

Any chefs wishing to receive information on getting involved with The Chefs’ Forum Academy should contact The Chefs’ Forum Academy Coordinator: rebecca@redcherry.uk.com

 

 

Scottish Chefs Lament Banned Background Music in Restaurants

The ban on background music in restaurants and bars in Scotland, which became law on the 14th August, is being likened to a”kiss of death” by owners.

According to the Scottish Government the new rule has been enforced because music causes customers to have to “lean in” to be heard thus making social distancing more difficult.

“We don’t want the restrictions in place for any longer than is needed but in order to continue to suppress Covid-19 the clinical advice remains that pubs and bars should have no background music or volume from television,” said a spokeswoman from the Government. “This is because of the increased risk of transmission from aerosol and droplets when people raise their voices. We continue to monitor this and are working closely with the licensed trade to develop updated guidance based on the best public health advice.”

Peter McKenna, Chef and Co-Owner of The Gannet in Glasgow said

“We have always played background music.  We feel it adds personality to a restaurant and gives people a sense of place.  We have actually carried out an experiment into background music being switched off compared to low level background music.  We found that the noise level was significantly higher with no music as people spoke more loudly to make themselves heard in their groups over a cacophony of voices, this should be taken into consideration re: lifting the ban. Low level music in our opinion moderates the level of noise and can create varying ambiances, changing with time of day and who’s in at any given time.  Our favorites include ambient tracks by Bob Dylan, Zero 7 and William Orbit!”

This has brought uproar from some of Scotland’s restaurateurs and hoteliers. James Thomson, who owns The Witchery Restaurant and Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh, said:

“Having no music at all is the kiss of death in terms of atmosphere for us and there is no logic behind it. This is a nonsense. Very loud music in nightclubs could cause people to lean in to each other but in restaurants background music adds ambience! We need background music to kill the deathly hush as people feel they have to start whispering when a restaurant is quiet. Diners want to eat out in a place with atmosphere not a library.”

Dominic Crolla, of Edinburgh’s La Locanda in Cockburn Street added:

“Background music should be allowed in restaurants. The ban is a disgrace. My customers come to hear classic Italian music while enjoying Italian food but now the atmosphere is ruined. They are just guessing and it just doesn’t add up.”

Matthew Bailey, General Manager of Mortonhall Garden Centre which contains a restaurant that seats 300 said:

“Music enhances the atmosphere in the current climate where people are more uptight and sombre. It softens the mood and relaxes people. We should be allowed to play background music as it creates a feeling of harmony.”

Chefs and Industry Leaders Have Their Say on the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ Scheme

Eat Out to Help Out has been claimed 64 million times since the beginning of August according to data released by HM Revenue & Customs. This equates to one per person for every person in the country.

The £10 per head maximum discount scheme has risen in popularity since it started. The data shows 10.5m meals were claimed in the first week followed by 35m in the second. By the end of the month this had risen to 64m.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “This scheme has reminded us how much we love to dine out. Today’s figures continue to show that diners are backing hospitality – with more than 64m meals discounted so far, that’s equivalent to nearly every person in the country dining out to protect jobs.”

HMRC said £336m had been claimed so far. This represents an average discount of £5.25 per head. The scheme runs until the end of August.

Chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL DBA said the scheme has really worked for him, so much so that he’s going to extend it at his own expense for the time being, he said

“Yes, we are indeed keeping the offer open from Tuesday to Saturday at Café Spice Namaste. Situated where we are on the fringe of London’s City district, we have sadly suffered the total decimation of our usual clientele with many offices remaining completely shut.

There is also the added drawback of the 24/7 congestion charge being in place up until 10pm, coupled with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone charge (ULEZ). This means we significantly lose-out from a double whammy.  The only saving grace are diners from East London or those travelling by public transport.

The Chancellor’s initiative encouraged people to dine out, enjoying a fantastic discount, we thought this would be the best thing to encourage our customers to raise their confidence and to venture out so that our industry gets the vital boost it needs.”

The Eat Out To Help Out scheme has helped us in bringing new customers to us, as well as showing people that our industry does care and is taking precautions in making sure guests are safe and comfortable.”

Many industry leaders are calling for the scheme to be extended with some claiming that it had already been a success.

Stephen Wall, Managing Director and co-founder of Pho, told The Guardian:

“The Eat Out to Help Out scheme has really been amazing. Its so nice to see our restaurants full of happy staff and customers again. It has certainly benefited our early week figures and seems to have encouraged the British public to dine out safely, as our restaurants are filling up and staying busy throughout the weekend, too.”

However, it has not all be plain sailing. Simon Hulstone of The Elephant in Torquay revealed on his twitter feed that guests were threatening to never come again if they did not receive the offer on other days:

“So much hate for being full on tues/wed from people. Even threatening to never eat with us again unless they can get £10 off other day !!! Very bizarre behaviour. We are operating with 30% less covers we would love to do more guests.“

Masterchef semi-finalist and South West Chef of The Year, Jamie Rogers of Restaurant Twenty-Seven, Kingsbridge, also based in Devon said that he has really benefited from the scheme saying

“The Eat Out To Help Out scheme has massively helped my restaurant so much that we are doing almost three times the covers we usually do Monday to Wednesday.  It’s turned a very uncertain time into a positive for me as an owner, the staff and our much-valued customers.  It has also attracted people who wouldn’t normally come as they perceive us to be expensive or fine dining, so its been a great promotion all round – Thank you Rishi and Boris!”

David Page, chairman of Fulham Shore, which owns Franco Manca and The Real Greek, told The BBC:

“Eat Out to Help Out immediately increased our restaurant customer numbers by over 50%, thus enabling us to get all our staff back to work. In fact, we are now creating new jobs.”

According to Sky News the Grosvenor Estate, one of the largest property owners in London’s West End, plans to offer discounted rents for restaurants in its property portfolio that apply £10 per head discounts until the end of September.

Overall, the comments from chefs all over the country have given the scheme a resounding thumbs-up and would like to take this opportunity to thank customers who have participated in the scheme and the government for its support of the hospitality industry at such a difficult time.

Senior Chefs Have Been Reacting to the GSCE and SQA Results Day with Messages of Support

Senior chefs have been reacting to the GSCE and SQA results day with messages of support pouring in from all over the country. The Chefs’ Forum has taken an active role during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

All Academy chefs have offered dinners to groups of students at their restaurant as a reward for attending their maths and English GCSE sessions and trying their best to achieve a pass.  The increase in attendance and effort applied to their courses on last year is absolutely astounding and is evident in the excellent results achieved.

Both the Chefs’ Forum YouTube Channel and Couch to College Open Day have been extremely useful for students while they were away from school. Now chefs are sending in words of encouragement for the new intake of students as they prepare for college life and a new profession.

The Chefs’ Forum and colleges are delighted with the show of strength, support and encouragement from the Academy chefs.  Here are some of their lovely comments and messages they sent wishing students the very best for results day and the coming academic year.

Doug Crampton, Head Chef at James Martin Manchester said:

“Good luck with your exam results! It’s been great to support Manchester College Chefs’ Forum Academy this year. I was really impressed with all your skills and how enthusiastic you all are with our masterclasses. The masterclass sessions offered a prime opportunity to search out new talent and we’ve had a few students who have come to work with us as a result. Keep an eye out for events we’ve got coming up – we’ve got some great stuff and all the best for the future.”

Sam Fazackerley, Rosso Restaurant, Manchester added:

“I would like to wish the very best of luck to the students at The Manchester College.  We’re very much looking forward to delivering more guest lecturers in the college as part of The Chefs’ Forum Academy.  Huge congratulations to the college and The Chefs’ Forum for bringing us all together; it helps us find the next young talent for our kitchens and helps the students become more industry ready.  We look forward to seeing you all soon!”

Joe Bartlett, Lake Country House offered his encouragement:

“We’re sending all the luck in the world from the team at The Lake. I had a fantastic time teaching you at level 1 and 2. We did two great dishes together at Coleg Gwent – a braise and a fish dish – and you all did a fantastic job. All the hard work you put in you will then get out later so fingers crossed for your results!

“A huge thank you to chef Gavin for bringing us local chefs in and bridging that gap between students, colleges and the industry. I’m always happy to help students with work placement or even a job if you are looking. Good luck and see you soon.”

Ben Purton from Off to Work said:

“It’s been really great coming down and working at the West London College over the last year or so with you. I’ve loved cooking alongside you and I look forward to coming down to see you in the next few months when all this blows over! It’s great to be working alongside The Chefs’ Forum and everything they do for students. Good luck and give us a shout if you need anything.”

The Chefs’ Forum would like to take this opportunity to thank all chefs who send messages of encouragement to the students.

Any chefs wishing to teach in The Chefs’ Forum Academies throughout the UK should contact Academy Coordinator, Rebecca Saunders: rebecca@redcherry.uk.com – We need you to inspire and ignite the aspiration in the next generation.

Top Catering Colleges and Chefs’ Forum Academies are Celebrating a Flood of Good GSCE and SQA Results

Top Catering Colleges and Chefs’ Forum Academies are celebrating a flood of good GSCE and SQA results and are preparing to welcome a new influx of students onto their hospitality and catering courses.

The results are a relief for four leading colleges running Chefs’ Forum Academies from England. Wales and Scotland after months of lockdown learning and home-schooling. They reveal how much The Chefs’ Forum initiatives have helped students in these very different times. They shared their thoughts on what the last few months have been like and what they are looking forward to as students begin to return.

chefs forum academy Elizabeth Peters, Assistant Principal, Service and Retail Industries at The Manchester College, told us:

“We are delighted with the GCSE results from our students while they have been learning remotely at this difficult time. Resources like The Chefs’ Forum Academy YouTube recipe channel and our recent virtual ‘Couch to College’ open day with The Chefs’ Forum and Simon Wood have been extremely valuable to us.

“They maintain our links with industry to come back even stronger once we are able to invite students and chefs back into the college for the new normal.

Elizabeth went on to say: “We have really enjoyed the messages of encouragement for results day from our Chefs’ Forum Academy chefs and can’t wait to welcome them back to enrich our students learning for the new academic year to deliver cookery masterclasses, whether virtually, or in person, depending on government guidelines.”

catering college results Denise Charles, Head of Curriculum, Service Industries at Hammersmith & Fulham College said

“We have celebrated some great GCSE results across our four colleges and my hospitality and catering students have done very well indeed. We have added The Chefs’ Forum Academy YouTube recipe channel and links to our online learning platform.

“Throughout lockdown, my teaching team and I regularly participated in the Chefs’ Quiz each week to maintain contact with chefs who come into the college to teach.

“It was great to see our guest teaching chefs Michael Dutnall MCA from the RAF Club, Soham Sonawane from The Dorchester, Chanaka Fernando from Buddha Bar and Connor McAlpine of Marcus Waring Restaurants, who gave a Front of House Masterclass.

“I would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to Ben Purton from Off To Work for his kind words of encouragement to our students for receiving their exam results today, it was a lovely gesture.  We very much look forward to welcoming the guest chefs back into the college again, the students really look forward to the sessions!”

Gavin George, Chef Lecturer at Coleg Gwent added

“Its been an exciting morning at the college today.  Our students have been very happy with their GCSE results as they were predicted by us as their tutors.  We are very proud of the relentless effort and enthusiasm they have shown over lockdown and we look forward to welcoming them back to the college.  We will produce films of masterclasses with our Chefs’ Forum Academy chefs if we are not able to invite them in while restrictions are still in place. Covid-19 won’t stop us from inspiring and nurturing our students to be the best they can possibly be.”

May Donald, Associate Dean – Culinary Arts & Bakery Hospitality & Leisure at Glasgow College added her thoughts on SQA results in Scotland:

“It has been a challenging academic year all round. Students have faced a great upheaval of delivery and have taken on a new way of learning in an instant. My department and I are very proud of the response to this and the results have replicated their dedication and commitment to their learning journey.”

The Chefs’ Forum is very much looking forward to sending chefs into colleges to teach on a near-national level.  Any chefs wishing to get involved in giving back to the industry and passing on their skills and expertise should email Chefs’ Forum Academy Coordinator Rebecca Saunders: rebecca@redcherry.uk.com

Areas currently running Chefs’ Forum Academies are Bath & Cotswolds, London, South Wales, West Wales and Manchester. We are also launching in Glasgow very soon – We look forward to hearing from you as all great chefs should teach!

Comax UK & Sanitise This are Joining Forces to Bring their Locally Made Community Spirit Hand Sanitiser to Bars, Hotels and Restaurants Across The South!

Comax UK & Sanitise This are Joining Forces to Bring their Locally Made Community Spirit Hand Sanitiser to Bars, Hotels and Restaurants Across The South!

When COVID-19 hit the impact was immediate, it affected all businesses & services and forced everyone to find new ways to work and support each other.

Based in Ringwood, Comax UK has proudly supplied local hospitality businesses, care homes and schools with professional cleaning, catering & PPE products for over 25 years. From the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, they had to adapt rapidly to the changing market place. Due to the incredible demand, for sanitiser and PPE, sourcing stock became challenging but they were able to quickly focus the business to janitorial and PPE supplies, initially prioritising their NHS, care home and school customers, whilst working hard to ensure continuous supplies of crucial stock.

Now five months after it all began the hospitality industry is getting back on its feet and they could not be more excited to be collaborating with fellow local business Conker Spirit!

Back in April, Dorset’s first gin distillery, Conker Spirit, rapidly shifted their distillery production to help bridge the gap in supply of sanitiser for frontline workers. During the start of the epidemic, they gave away hundreds of 70cl bottles of hand sanitiser, aptly naming it their ‘Community Spirit’. Made from the waste ‘heads’ of their distillation process, it had the added benefit of being full of the oils and aromas from their gin botanicals.

This generosity prompted quite a bit of interest from the local press, and it was not long before companies all over the country flooded their inbox. “That’s when we knew it was going to take more than a gesture of a few hundred bottles of free sanitiser. There was a genuine need for us to go into full-scale production of the WHO formulation hand sanitiser, and quickly!” says Rupert. Since then, Conker Spirit have manufactured over 80,000 litres of WHO Formulation Hand Sanitiser alongside their usual distillery operations, supplying frontline services, key worker businesses and people in their homes.

Now, as lockdown lifts and businesses start to open their doors again, they have taken their sanitiser production to a completely new level with the launch of Sanitise This, a separate company within the Conker group that offers ethically priced, beautifully presented sanitiser solutions for the hospitality industry and businesses.

The partnership between Comax, as locally based distributors, and manufacturers Conker Spirit is a perfect match! Both are delighted to launch Community Spirit Hand Sanitiser into bars, hotels and restaurants across the UK.

Community Spirit Hand Sanitiser is now available to order from Comax UK in 500ml & 5 Litre containers.

Visit www.comaxuk.com now to purchase.

Chef Andrew Sheridan Launches Restaurant 8 this Autumn

Opening on October 8th, 8 will be “the eight courses of Andrew Sheridan‘s career”.

Located in a central Birmingham location, a clock will sit outside the venue, counting down to 8pm, when the initial eight guests are invited in for a single sitting of the tasting menu that evening.

Each of the courses are based around the number 8 and will be accompanied by a multi-sensory experience from the LED wall which forms one side of the restaurant.

Dishes include ‘8-10-2006’ – the date Andrew became a chef – which pays homage to the carrot cake recipe which was the first dish he learnt to cook, whilst the apple and scallop ‘eight days a week’ is a nod to the chef’s Liverpool roots. Mint chocolate, synonymous with the ending to a meal, makes an appearance under the guise of ‘8.01’.

The menu is priced at £88 for eight courses, with unique optional drinks pairings at £8 each. Andrew Sheridan will also remain as Executive Chef at Craft Dining Rooms.

Award-winning Chef Sudha Saha Opens O.kra in Stafford

Located on Mill Street, the newest restaurant to arrive in Stafford town centre provides a unique and modern take on traditional Indian dishes.

O.kra’s dishes remain authentic to Indian recipes passed down through generations, fusing local and seasonal quality ingredients with global influences, to produce a dining experience to remember.

And at its helm – Consultant Indian Chef Sudha Saha:

“The current climate has seen a huge shift within the restaurant industry. Many restaurants have unfortunately had to close their doors, yet I believe it provides the opportunity for others to shine. O.kra is one of those, and I’m extremely excited to lead the way to launch something special there.”

Stemming from his love for authentic flavours, and innovative and imaginative techniques of cooking, Sudha is truly passionate about being able to share a fresh perspective on the cuisine. Offering a modern approach to traditional cooking, Sudha looks to break down the conventional barriers, and both inspire and educate people in Indian cuisine.  Recognised by both the Michelin and Hardens Guides, Sudha has created a menu that fuses local and seasonal produce with global influences – the result of this East-West affair is spectacular, and a world away from Birmingham’s renowned Baltis,

Sudha’s culinary career spans over three decades, and he has taken part in a range of live cooking demos including Hotelympia, Grand Designs and the Food and Drink Expo at the NEC.  He has also made appearances on Brit Asia TV’s ‘Culinary King’, Channel 4’s ‘Iron Chef’, ITV’s ‘Britain’s Best Dish’, BBC2’s ‘Restaurant with Alex Polizzi’, CBBC’s ‘Disaster Chef’, and Food Network’s ‘Birmingham to Bombay’.

O.kra Indian Restaurant
16-18 Mill Street
Stafford
ST16 2AJ

Opening Times
Monday to Sunday – 5.30pm to 11:00pm

www.o-kra.co.uk

 

 

The Manchester College Virtual Hospitality Taster Day was a Great Success!

Almost one thousand future students participated in The Manchester College’s first ever Couch to College event. The Hospitality and Catering session was hosted by the Hospitality and Catering teaching team, Masterchef Winner and Chefs’ Forum Academy Patron, Simon Wood and Catherine Farinha, Founder of The Chefs’ Forum.

Catherine Farinha interviewed Simon at his restaurant, Wood Restaurant, Manchester, in a Microsoft Teams Live event, asking him what he thinks it takes to be successful in the hospitality industry. He offered hints and advice on what young chefs and hospitality professionals should be doing to maximise on their training.

Simon recommended books to read and communicated to the students that they must never stop learning, fondly recounting foodie stories of his childhood and chefs who he admires.

Catherine was delighted to host the session with Simon at his restaurant, she said
“It is great to be able to find a way of continuing to raise the profile of The Manchester College and The Chefs’ Forum Academy while restrictions remain in place. It is crucial that we do all we can to drive registrations at the college for the coming academic year. We very much look forward to welcoming chefs back into the college again once permitted and will continue to support the college virtually in the interim. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Academy chefs for their ongoing help and support.”

Last month, the college hosted 37 online sessions to help new students transition from school to college by meeting their Tutors, tour college campuses and explore the wide range of courses and qualifications available to them.

Watch the full session here:

Mark Cooper, Course Lead for Technical Patisserie was very instrumental in organising and hosting the event from a college perspective, he said
“This event was important for all, to give a great insight into what students can learn at college and the specialist chefs they will meet on the course – Simon Wood being one of them. They will also have the opportunity to participate in competitions and assist with the organisation of local and regional events. The virtual taster day gave a full-rounded experience of what students can expect when enrolling onto a course at our college – It was a great success for all involved and a format that we will repeat again. I would like to personally thank Simon Wood and Oliver Harvey for supplying and donating great prizes for our chefs quiz, which added a further element of interest for the participants.”

The first week of events, kicked-off by Principal Lisa O’Loughlin on Monday 6 July, introduced students to the college’s brand new Industry Excellence Academy and Centres of Excellence, as well as the Careers and Welfare, and Transition teams.

Students were also advised on how to make an application and how to enrol, while Deputy Principal Rachel Curry explained how they’ll be keeping colleagues and students safe on campus when they return in September.

Week two was all about individual curriculum areas. Students met their new Tutors and were given a taster session of their chosen subject areas. They also heard more about our array of industry partners, finding out how they shape the curriculum, offer work experience opportunities and help prepare students for industry.

Masterchef UK winner and patron of The Chefs’ Forum Academy, Simon Wood, hosted the Hospitality and Catering event. Simon said:
“This was such an important virtual event to promote the hospitality industry to the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals in these strange times when we can’t hold traditional open days due to COVID-19. As patron of The Chefs’ Forum Academy at The Manchester College, it was a pleasure to take part in the Couch to College session and talk about my career as a chef, winning MasterChef and giving advice to those considering becoming a chef or front of house professional. Both aspects create the dining experience and I feel the session communicated this very well indeed.”

The third and final week of Couch to College focused on the student experience, with sessions on how to enrol, becoming work ready and our fantastic Duke of Edinburgh opportunities.

Students also met our experienced Employability team, who provided top tips on using social media to find a career that suits them and boost their prospects.

Deputy Principal, Rachel Curry, said:
“Thank you to everybody who has contributed to Couch to College and made it such a success. Our colleagues have worked tirelessly to deliver their presentations, showcasing all our subject areas and fantastic facilities, so it was great to see so many students take part. We hope you have got a feel for College life and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to College safely in September.”

The Manchester College is one of six UK colleges where The Chefs’ Forum operate The Chefs’ Forum Academy. The project sees top chefs and hospitality experts come into the college on a weekly basis to deliver guest lectures and practical cookery sessions to enrich the curriculum.

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