The graduation season started early in 2011 as graduates from
QHotels Chef Academies received their qualification certificates at
a gala ceremony at The Midland Hotel, Manchester. The
Foundation Chef Academy and the Intermediate Chef Academy are run
by QHotels in partnership with Babcock. The academies are
based around the nationally recognised Apprenticeship Framework and
Advanced Apprenticeship Framework, with additional learning
activities designed and delivered by Babcock and QHotels.
These include visits to suppliers, workshops and master-classes
with external experts.
Prior to the graduations, the young chefs had one more challenge
to meet - a cook-off competition against their fellow
Apprentices. The foundation chefs' challenge took place at
Tankersley Manor hotel and the winner was Adam Johnston, based at
Crewe Hall. Adam's menu comprised mussels and king scallops
on wilted spinach and a white onion puree, garnished with Parma ham
crisp and white wine sauce. For pudding he created a vanilla
crème brulee with candied fruit in a honey and ginger tuille.
The intermediate cook-off took place at the Midland Hotel, where
winner Jamie Brittain created chicken consommé with sea bass, lamb
en croute with lyonnaise potatoes and broccoli puree. His
pudding was an egg custard tart with raspberry sorbet and an Eccles
cake.
Katy Newman, National Accounts Manager for Babcock said:
"Watching the chefs create their menus against each other and
against the clock demonstrated just how much they have learned and
the exceptional standards that all of them are working to.
There is quite a jump from the foundation programme to the
intermediate, but all of our apprentices rose to the new
challenge. Some of the highlights of their programme this
year were a master class at Billingsgate fish school and a pastry
lecture with practical class at the University College
Birmingham."
Sarah Abercrombie of QHotels added: "Each year we have been
amazed and surprised by the calibre of our young chefs. The purpose
of our academies is not only to provide our young chefs with
inspiration and excite them about food; it's about growing our own
talent for the future. Already the benefits of the Academy can be
seen around our 21 hotels and they have had a huge impact on the
food we serve. One of our Intermediate finalists, Gareth Rowlands
from The Park Royal, was a finalist in last year's Foundation Chef
Academy and has progressed with great success. We're passionate
about nurturing our talent and the final events are a testament to
that success."
There were eight graduates from this year's Foundation Academy
and nine from the Intermediate Academy. All now will go on to
further their careers within QHotels.