The first Chef’s Academy session took place at North Kent College on 24th January 2023 where it promoted the use of plant-based food through the Root Kitchen Culinary Concepts. The second Chef’s Academy took place at Bournemouth and Poole College on 3rd February 2023 promoting the new Cakes and Bakes Culinary Concept.
These events demonstrated how combining relevant, tailored training programmes with delicious, new recipes, can help to motivate and ‘inspire’ chefs working within NHS trusts. Objectives include:
- Teach new culinary skills through a practical, hands-on learning approach
- Inspire NHS chefs by introducing them to new, tasty recipes and show how NHS Supply Chain: Food Culinary Concepts can be adapted and recreated within their trust
- Give insights into the National food review and the mandatory NHS food standards
- Understand the importance of nutrition and dietetics within hospitals
- Foster discussion and collaboration with other NHS chefs to create great food, while also providing the opportunity to share best practices
Speaking about the Chef’s Academy programme Nick Vadis, culinary ambassador in the NHS Supply Chain: Food team, said: “I’m passionate about food and want to support the growth of catering teams in NHS trusts across the country. We’ve seen such success so far with the Chef’s Academy and attendees leaving feeling inspired, with new skills and new ideas, as well as a bank of recipes they can take straight back to their kitchen.”