Students Learn from Top Chefs at Langley College Hospitality Taster Day
Over 150 pupils from 10 Slough schools enjoyed a taste of the hospitality industry at a special Hospitality Taster Day held at Langley College this week, to mark the re-launch of hospitality and catering courses at the College this September.
The event, which was run in partnership with The Chefs’ Forum Academy, brought together celebrity chefs to demonstrate a range of cookery techniques, inviting the students to join in and learn how to make pasta, sushi and samosas from the industry experts.
Gillian May CEO and Group Principal for Langley College said: “This event was a fabulous way to engage with local schools and showcase the industry standard training kitchens and restaurant at Langley. We are delighted to be re-launching our programme this September as the industry recovers from the pandemic. We saw so much enthusiasm from the students at the event I am sure we will see a number of them becoming the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.”
Local chefs Tom Westerland & Arbinder Singh Dugal were on hand, along with sushi master Keiko Urakawa to demonstrate just what the new academy will be offering when it re-opens in September. Tom Westerland gave a brilliant fresh ravioli-making demonstration and Arbinder, made Potli samosas, both showcasing a hand-kneaded dough to achieve the perfect end result.
Students enjoyed a range of delicious canapés made by the chefs including sushi, arancini and a lunch of new plant-based, 3D printed Redefine Meat, New Meat™ vegan burgers followed by pasta making, an interactive sushi-rolling demonstration and a samosa-making competition, all live on stage.
The winner of the samosa making competition was Langley Academy year 9 student, Shalom, who won a prize of a £50 voucher for lunch for three at local Indian restaurant The Renaizance which she will attend with a friend and a teacher from their school.
Langley Academy Careers Officer Ruth Turner said “I’m so happy for Shalom in winning the samosa-making competition. She competed against peers from four other schools to create the perfect potli samosa. I’m sure all the teachers will want to accompany her to The Renaizance restaurant, as we’ve heard such great things. This is such a lovely prize and well-deserved by a student who has a real passion for cooking and is an absolute pleasure to teach. This was such a successful day, greatly enjoyed by all.”
The special taster day was designed to showcase the exceptional facilities at the College to students from local schools, introducing them to the chefs who could be teaching them in the college kitchens if they choose to embark upon a hospitality and catering course at Langley College in September 2022.
There was also a special live performance of The Chefs’ Forum Academy’s brand new, theme tune, “Inspiration”, written by music artist Lowkeylimit, accompanied by talented break dancers Kit Sells and Mikey Hook-Tappin.
The Academy will have chef patrons Dominic Chapman (The Beehive), Joe Bartlett (Cliveden House), Tom Westerland (Crockers Henley), Sushi Master Keiko Urakawa and Roux Scholarship and Masterchef semi-finalist, Arbinder Singh Dugal, who are all local to the college.
Dominic Chapman said: “We’re all looking forward to a new influx of students this year. It’s going to be great to work with them through the new academy.”
Arbinder added: “Langley is my local college and I always love to make a difference and give back to the community. I really enjoy working with young people, and it is a real honour to be invited to be the Patron of The Chefs’ Forum Academy at Langley College.”
Slough-based Shipley’s Food service kindly sponsored an array of samosas, Indian sweets and medjool dates to celebrate the Holy month of Ramadan.
First Choice Produce also helped with supplying all fresh and ambient produce, helping The Chefs’ Forum drive down the food cost of the event, catering for nearly 150 school children in years 10 and 11.
Catherine Farinha, Director of The Chefs’ Forum, said: “These Taster Days introduce school pupils to the hospitality profession and really showcase the opportunities on offer in this vibrant sector. What’s fantastic is they can train at Langley College with the support and patronage of this wonderful array of talented chefs.”
Catherine continued: “We are very lucky to have the support of Dominic, Joe, Arbinder, Tom and Keiko, as all of these talented chefs, all with very different cuisine specialities, showed the school children how exciting a career in the hospitality industry could be.
The Chefs’ Forum is all about bridging the gap between colleges, the profession, and the wider hospitality community. I’m looking forward to Langley College becoming a Chefs’ Forum Academy this September, giving them access to our huge database of talented chefs who can visit the college to teach students all the latest techniques from industry in their purpose-built training kitchens and restaurant on campus.”
To find out more about joining the college in September come along to the open day at Langley College on 24th May from 4.30 – 7pm or visit the website at www.windsor-forest.ac.uk and apply online.
Photography credit: Alec Seaman | Film credit: Alex Ryland-Jones
