Michelin Star Chef will put students through their paces
25 students will take part in a cookery class with a difference on 8 and 9 May when Adam Gray, Gary Rhodes’ Executive Chef and TV partner, makes his fifth annual visit to the College.
The former catering student runs the kitchens at the prestigious Michelin starred restaurant Rhodes Twenty Four, and has previously appeared alongside Gary Rhodes in a number of well-known TV programmes. Year-on-year he returns to the College to run gruelling two-day training exercises for Catering & Hospitality students as part of The Chefs Academy – a work placement project he launched with the College in 2003 for outstanding trainees.
This time he will be joined by his Rhodes’ Twenty Four team, Restaurant Manager Ludovic Bargibant and Jnr sous chef Omar Romero. Also joining the team will be Dean Ashby and Hannah Bonnington currently work at Rhodes Twenty Four and Rhodes W1 Brassiere in the front of house teams. They both originate from Northampton and took part in the Chefs Academy dinner 3 years ago. They then both secured full time positions within the restaurants as professional waiting staff and have been progressing exceptionally well ever since.
As a grand finale, and to showcase their newfound talents, the students will present a mouth-watering seasonal six course meal to over 90 guests in a special evening meal in the College’s Restaurant on Friday 9 May.
Adam said, ‘I continue to return every year to the College because The Chefs’ Academy I set up is still very important to me. I can’t believe it’s been five years since we started it; it’s been such a success. Over 25 talented chefs and front of house trainees have completed work placements with me in London since it began, and some of them have gone onto secure full time employment. I’m always very impressed with the efforts of the students but I will be looking for absolute perfection and concentration over the two-day session.
Mike Coppock, Programme Manager in Catering and Hospitality, said, ‘We are very lucky to be able to build upon the success of The Academy and are very grateful for Adam’s continued support. Our Restaurant gets better every year as do our students who continue to win countless awards and competitions. When Adam makes his visit the students know they have to work that little bit harder to achieve a Michelin starred level. There really is no room for error. All the students are really looking forward to the visit.’