Perth students are the creme de la creme
Nikola Plhakova, David Ward and Helen Vass with John Swinney MSP A top Scottish chef has joined forces with the winner of this year’s Bake Off Creme de la Creme to inspire students at Perth College UHI.
Nikola Plhakova, a junior sous chef with Sodexo Prestige Venues and Events joined forces with patisserie expert and Bake Off Creme de la Creme winner Helen Vass to give special workshops to over 60 food studies and hospitality students at the college.
The workshops, part of the college’s special skills week, aimed to take student learning to a new level and help them refine their skills in craft including chocolate work and cocktail making.
The week-long training event was then marked with a special celebration of skills dinner with VIPs including Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
David Ward, executive chef at Sodexo, said:“It has been a great opportunity for Nikola to be able to take a step back and help students entering the world of hospitality, offering them tips and insights fro her very own experience.
“We often find these initiatives can be just as rewarding for our staff in their own development, as it is for the students as they embrace new challenges.”
The menu at the celebration dinner took a“springtime awakening”theme which was designed by the students using seasonal produce. The students were also encouraged to expand their skills base by cooking with less well-known ingredients such as lamb sweetbreads.
During the workshops, Nikola focused on the savoury dishes while Helen Vass helped the students with chocolate truffle making.