Eastleigh College in Hampshire, which recently earned itself the Craft Guild of Chefs College Accreditation, has given its catering and hospitality students a chance to see a leading venue in action with a visit to Pennyhill Park, the luxury hotel and spa in Surrey.
Course lecturer Greg Cheeseman said: “The main purpose of the visit was to allow our students an insight and experience into a Michelin restaurant. We have worked with the exclusive group on guest chef nights and demonstrations and the chefs academy over many years. With the appointment of Steve Smith at Laytmer’s Michelin Star and 2 AA Rosette Restaurant within Pennyhill Park, it felt right to take the students there to experience it.”
Steve Smith, a Craft Guild of Chefs member, is the executive chef at the Michelin Star Latymer Restaurant at Penny Hill Park.
Cheeseman added: “On arrival we were welcomed by the reception and restaurant team and taken straight through to the kitchen. The students had a chance to see the large kitchen divided up and were amazed at what was going on.
“We had a live TV feed into the kitchen and we got to see the other kitchens of another restaurant during service. Throughout each of the courses, students were asked to go into the kitchen and watch chefs plate up the dishes and observe how calm the service was - even when it was very busy.
“They had big smiles on their faces when they came back in the kitchen and were animatedly discussing what they saw. To experience each course and see the detail, workmanship and techniques was so inspiring for the students to witness first-hand. For the students to walk into a 5 star hotel, let alone be served at its star restaurant, was truly an experience they won’t forget.
“For me as a lecturer it’s so important to have industry professionals such as Andy McKenzie and Phil Yeoman on our doorstep, but to then have Steve smith and Sarah Franklin an hour away to help guide our students into an amazing industry is fantastic as well.
“Danny Pecorelli is such a figure in the industry who supports everything we do at Eastleigh College. It’s safe to say from the many employers we work with that the industry is in good hands in terms of taking our students to long careers ahead of them.”
Cheeseman received the Catering College accolade at the recent Public Sector Catering Awards, which took place on 7 April at the London Hilton Metropole. His approach to teaching has always been a selfless one putting the students first and ensuring that they are at the heart of everything he does.
Sue Lyons, head of department for hospitality and catering at Eastleigh College, added: “What an amazing experience we were able to offer our Level 3 students. To have these industry professionals supporting us and providing us with such an opportunity - we are forever grateful. It is these enrichment extra-curricular activities that stay with the students and are something they will always remember. As lecturers we never take this for granted.”