Student chefs serve up Valentine's feast
BUDDING teenage chefs served up a gourmet feast this Valentine's Day, treating loved-up diners to three sumptuous courses.
Catering students at City of Wolverhampton College gave up their evening to host the popular campus dinner on February 15, which saw 30 hungry people attend.
After weeks of planning, they were excited to serve up the three-course feast in the academy restaurant which cost a bargain £13.95 per person.
Couples were able to share a celebration fish platter, tuck in to sticky chilli roast chicken or spicy vegetable samosas, followed by pan-fried sirloin steak with stilton butter, chicken tikka masala, duck à l’orange or goat’s cheese and red onion tart.
And to round off the evening they could pick to either indulge in white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake, baked Alaska or chocolate and pistachio soufflé.
Student Laura Townsend, 19, is studying for a Level 3 diploma in food and beverage service. She planned the themed evening with two others, developing the menu and organising the heart-themed decorations in the restaurant.
Laura said: "The evening went well. I had good feedback from the customers and it was nice to see everyone enjoying the evening I’d organised."
Newly weds Emily and Jack Strong, of Finchfield, celebrated their first Valentine's Day as a married couple by attending the event.
They recently tied the knot at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales back in August.
Emily, 27, a trainee educational psychologist, said: ""The Valentine's meal was delicious and great value for money. We were really impressed with the menu choices on offer and the way the dishes were cooked, presented and served by the students.
"Seeing the cookery students at work in the training kitchen was just like watching a team of professional chefs, and the hospitality students working in the restaurant were really attentive and made sure we all had a lovely evening."
Curriculum manager for catering at the college Heath Arnfield said: "The Valentine’s evening is always a popular event and gives students the chance to use the skills they are learning on their course to serve up a romantic feast for diners."
