Students’class act in support of POAP
Perth College UHI tutors and students with celebrity chef Paul Rankin Students at Perth College UHI’s food studies and hospitality department are again set to work alongside both celebrity and leading local chefs at this year’s two- day food and drink showcase.
Sector manager for food studies and hospitality at the college, Ian Gibb, explained this year’s involvement at Perthshire On A Plate (POAP) would strengthen what is already a highly successful partnership.
“Our students have been helping both behind the scenes and on stage at POAP since the food festival first launched in 2010,”he said.“Their food preparation, cookery management and delivery support to all the showcase chefs has been hugely rewarding for the students. Many have secured work placements and full-time employment with the chefs they work with.”
Mr Gibb said POAP offered the perfect two-day training ground for students eager to watch and learn from skilled chefs – experience that was invaluable in preparation for the workplace.
“To work alongside chefs such as Phil Vickery, Gino D’Acampo, Rosemary Shrager and Jean-Christophe Novelli over the years – as well as widely acclaimed award-winning local chefs – is exciting and rewarding for everyone involved.”
POAP co-organiser MaureenYoung said the support from the college students had proved“invaluable”each year.
“We really couldn’t manage without Ian and his amazing team,”she said.“It would be impossible to deliver the festival at the high standard we do without their amazing on-stage and behind-the-scenes support.
“Everyone involved from the college works tirelessly to support our featured chefs throughout the two-day festival and ensure a seamless first class demonstrations programme. Their professionalism, enthusiasm, obvious enjoyment and hard work is a reflection of the training they receive at Perth College UHI and we’re delighted and extremely grateful to have them play a key role again in 2019.”
Perthshire On A Plate organisers Vicki Unite and Maureen Young