Serving up celebration of local produce

A CELEBRATION of local food and produce will be served up as part of a partnership between Perth College and catering firm Sodexo.

The company’s support for the annual Perthshire on a Plate (Poap) event will allow students on the college’s food studies and hospitality courses to work alongside well-known chefs during the two-day extravaganza at the South Inch in Perth.

It will take place on Friday and Saturday, August 3 and 4.

Ian Gibb, the sector manager for food studies and hospitality at the college, said: “Our students have been helping both behind the scenes and on stage at Poap since the food festival first launched in 2010.

“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 f ull-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 would be invaluable in preparation for the workplace.

“To work alongside chefs such as Rosemary Shrager, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Tony Singh, as well as widely acclaimed award-winning local chefs, is exciting and rewarding for everyone involved,” he added.