Students serve up first service
STUDENTS from a college in Reading took part in their first restaurant service as they look ahead to continuing their studies.
Level 1 Professional Culinary Arts students at Reading College completed part of their spring project which saw them design, develop, and analyse a menu which was then served.
Friends and family of students were invited to a restaurant service at The Kitchen on Kings Road campus.
Students served a starter of either halloumi fries with a sweet chilli dip, grilled asparagus and a poached egg on a toasted English muffin, or a Caesar salad.
Entrees included a choice of fish and chips, chicken breast stuffed with cheese and wrapped in Parma ham served with boulangère potatoes and tender stem broccoli, or macaroni cheese served with garlic bread.
Diners could choose from rhubarb crumble served with clotted cream, Bakewell tart with Chantilly cream, or tiramisu for dessert.
Katie McNelly, chef lecturer at Activate Learning, said: “I’m really proud of my students as they planned the whole event which included creating the menu, ordered in food, sending out invites, deciding on job roles and preparing and serving the dishes.
“As Level 1 students don’t do restaurant service till Level 2, it gave them a taste of what it would be like.
“It also gave them a first glimpse of what it would be like to work in hospitality, which is something which not all of them have experienced yet.
“They’ve done incredibly well, worked really hard, showed great initiative and worked well as a team.”
Saffron Charles, Hospitality Operations Supervisor at Activate Learning, managed the front of house team at the event.
She said: “The front of house team has been fantastic. They were really organised including asking for a seating plan and followed it. When I came in on the morning, everything was ready to go.
“They devised where all the guests would sit–they also asked lots of questions which showed that they were eager to learn.”
■ A table at The Kitchen can be booked by calling: 0118 955 4444 or emailing thekitchen@ activatelearning.ac.uk