The aspiring chefs from the Exclusive Chefs’ Academy went head-to-head in a Hell’s Kitchen meets MasterChef style event to mark the half-way point in the programmes’ annual calendar.
Under the guidance of current MasterChef: The Professionals champion, Steven Edwards and Executive Chef of the Academy, Andy Mackenzie, the chefs were split into two teams, Red and Blue, to devise, create and deliver a winning menu to a group of over 40 academy suppliers, producers, college lecturers and sponsors at South Downs College in Waterlooville.
Team Red narrowly scooped the prize for their menu of Squid Ink & Crab Ravioli, Sea Food Velouté, Brown Shrimp Dressing, followed by Lamb Shoulder & Cannon of Lamb, Textures of Kale, Celeriac and Burnt Butter Parfait, Pear, Coconut to finish. Steve Mould from Flint & Flame presented members of both teams with a beautifully boxed wood-handled kitchen knife and Sue Stephens of Steelite awarded the members of the winning team with a commemorative plate to mark their achievement.
The Exclusive Chefs’ Academy
The Exclusive Chefs’ Academy is the brainchild of Mackenzie who, together with Exclusive’s group of award-winning restaurant chefs has carefully designed a two-year intensive plot-to-plate programme to both attract and nurture aspiring talent to the chefs industry.
Each chef within the academy undertakes on-the-job training, attends off-site supplier visits and supervisory skills workshops, embarks on team challenges and benefits from master-classes with the Exclusive Hotels and Venues chefs, including 2-star Michael Wignall at The Latymer, Pennyhill Park, 1-Michelin star Matt Gillan at The Pass, South Lodge and 1-Michelin star Richard Davies from The Bybrook at The Manor House.
The programme is one of a kind, delivering a rare opportunity for aspiring chefs to learn in two years what might typically take five if they were to undertake their own separate placements across the industry, fast-tracking them to Chef De Partie within the Exclusive Kitchens after 24 months. 13 chefs are currently enrolled in the programme which launched in July 2014.
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