Press Releases

October 14 2009

Students battle it out in the kitchen

Students from Cedar Mount High School were given the chance to work alongside top industry chefs in an F word style cookery competition last week.

Split into two teams, the teenagers joined Hilton Head Chef David Gale and Des Norton from The Manchester College as they battled it out in the kitchen to cook the best three course lunch.

More than 30 invited guests including a number of other pupils from the school attended the two-hour contest which took place on 6 October at The Manchester College campus in Openshaw, with each given £20 in fake money to spend on the food.

The blue team headed up by Gale won the competition raising £285 after cooking a roasted pumpkin and spinach risotto, a main course of stuffed chicken breast together with a dessert of apple tart firie with chantilly cream.

The yellow team led by Norton cooked a cauliflower and coconut soup with curried flutes starter followed by poached stuffed chicken breast in a Chinese style broth and triple chocolate brownies and vanilla custard dessert.

The event was part of the East Manchester Food and Drink Fringe Festival, organised by urban regeneration company New East Manchester in partnership with Manchester City Council and Zest healthy living project to coincide with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival.

Sean McGonigle, Deputy Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: "The competition was a great opportunity for students to get a taste of careers in the hospitality industry and judging by the amount of money each team raised, it is clear that the event was a great success."

Peter Tavernor, Principal of The Manchester College, said: "It's been a great experience for our students. Working alongside professional chefs from one of Manchester's most high profile hotels is not something that happens to them everyday."

Other upcoming events and activities featured in the fringe festival include a cake competition being run by Manchester City Stadium followed by a cook and taste day of food from around the world on 23 October at St James C of E Primary School in Gorton.

The Food and Drink Fringe Festival is part of New East Manchester's Arts and Culture Programme.

For further information on New East Manchester visit www.neweastmanchester.com.

Ends

For further information contact Jeni Quirke at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155, ext 2153.

Notes to editors

New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, the national regeneration agency English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's role to turn the Regeneration Framework into action, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects and co-ordinate regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

The Manchester College was formed on 1 August 2008 by the merger of City College Manchester and Manchester College of Arts and Technology (MANCAT). The new college brings together vast experience and expertise from both institutions and aims to provide the very best education and training for school leavers, adults and businesses in the region.