Westminster Kingsway College chef student becomes one of the first UK students to be awarded a place at prestigious Spanish Gastronomy School

Westminster Kingsway College chef student Richard King has been awarded a place on one of the most prestigious culinary programmes in the world. Richard is one of only twelve scholarship recipients, and one of only two from the UK, to be chosen to represent their countries and culinary institutions at the upcoming 2015 edition of this annual training program.

The Training Program in Spanish Gastronomy is organised by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and the International School of Culinary Arts Fernando Pérez (EIC). This year, the select group of young chefs come from nine countries worldwide: Canada, China, Ireland, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This prestigious training program, which has trained more than 100 young international chefs in Spanish gastronomy, culture and language since it was created in 2007, will take place from 8 June through to 6 November 2015. Top Spanish restaurants will welcome the twelve international culinary students and recent graduates into their kitchens during this six-month program, which also consists of a six-week language and culinary training segment at the International School of Culinary Arts Fernando Pérez in Valladolid (Castile-León), a two-week tour of Spain, and competition in the International Tapas Competition in November 2015.

3^rd year professional chef student Richard King from Westminster Kingsway College is thrilled to be representing the College at this event. 19 year old Richard from Hornchurch in Essex said: “I am very pleased to be representing the College and to have this opportunity to learn with some of the best chefs in the world through this Spanish Scholarship programme. I have been studying at Westminster Kingsway College for three years and developing my skills and experience and this opportunity will help me to build further on my culinary skills.”

The participants selected for the 2015 Spanish Scholarship programme are: Rebekka Schmitt (Canada, Canadian Food & Wine Institute at Niagara College); Eric Lee (China, El Willy Fun F&B Group); Cormac Withero (Ireland, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology); Ana Paula Ochoa (Mexico, Colegio Superior de Gastronomía); Jacqueline Zaragoza (Mexico, Universidad Anáhuac); Teo Jun Xiang (Singapore, SHATEC); Eunbi Kim (South Korea, Bucheon University, Incheon Korea/Grand Hyatt Incheon); Denise Liao (Taiwan, La Denise); Jelena Dmitrijeva (United Kingdom, University of West London/Jumeirah Carlton Tower); Richard King (United Kingdom, Westminster Kingsway College); Dana Beninati (United States, Cornell University); and Carmen Galo (Le Cordon Bleu, Miramar, Florida/Bellmont Spanish Restaurant). Further information can be found at: www.foodswinesfromspain.com