A year after its launch, The Chefs' Forum held a lunch at The Bournemouth & Poole College on the 12th February 2013 to celebrate the launch of the Dorset Chefs' Forum. Michelin Starred, Good Food Guide and AA Rosette chefs were in attendance so a tough audience for The Colleges budding young chefs!
The Bournemouth & Poole College has just been awarded by The World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), a global network of top cooks, which has recognised The College’s culinary education programme, labelling it one of the best 20 in the world.
Top chefs from across Dorset were extremely impressed with the standard of cooking and front of house service and very much enjoyed their fabulous lunch consisting of a three course meal:
Chicken consommé to start, Trio of pork with seasonal vegetables for the main and warm chocolate tart with raspberry jelly and vanilla yoghurt sorbet to finish.
Ingredients for the lunch were kindly donated free of charge by Chefs' Forum Sponsor Total Produce and coffee by Brian Wogan Coffee. It is these sponsors who facilitate the existence of the Chefs’ Forum in driving down the food cost through donation to The College in staging events like this.
NVQ Level 3 day release chef students prepared the starter and the main course while VRQ Level 1 chef students made the dessert with their front-of-house peers serving the fabulous feast with the utmost in professionalism.
Heading up The Chefs' Forum in Dorset are Russell Brown of the Michelin Starred Sienna Restaurant, Matt Budden from The Highcliffe Grill (European food direction committee for Marriot) and Gary Kilminister (Catering Apprenticeship Coordinator) at The Bournemouth & Poole College.
Gary Kilminster stated:
"We as a College are looking to improve our links with Dorset employers in the catering industry and The Chefs' Forum will be a perfect vehicle to do this. We look forward to quarterly events where we can keep in touch with industry and improved communication with professional kitchens on a local level".
After lunch, Catherine Farinha presented The Chefs Forum to a group of thirty top local chefs and invited them to come into The College to stage cookery demonstrations.
Chef Russell Brown – who runs Sienna Restaurant in High West Street, Dorchester – added:
“Forging links between the colleges, apprentices, leading chefs and high quality suppliers is a key way for the industry to grow and get stronger. It will be a great opportunity to work more closely with Gary, the other forum members and The Colleges. "
The Chefs' Forum launched a year ago in January 2012 and has since expanded to include highly accredited chefs, catering colleges and top suppliers on a South West regional level.
Catherine Farinha, Founder Committee Member of The Chefs' Forum and event organiser stated:
"We have forged valuable links between the catering colleges and top chefs across the South West and it is wonderful to have now launched in Dorset. Communication between education and industry will now be effortless and this will lead to the next generation of top chefs and Front of House professionals learning from the very best in the business".
The Chefs' Forum plans to roll out nationally this year working with prestigious industry organisations to facilitate this.
