Globally-renowned Spanish restaurant El Celler de Can Roca has announced a partnership with the prestigious Westminster Kingsway College catering school to help with its’ forthcoming pop-up at London’s Cafe Royal.
Ten students from the college will work with El Celler de Can Roca’s owners, the famous Roca Brothers, across four nights at the pop-up in the Cafe’s Domino Room at the start of August. Two of these will then be offered a four-month internship at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, which has frequently topped ‘World’s Best Restaurants’ lists, as part of the restaurant’s partnership with global bank BBVA
Joan Roca, one of the three Brothers and Head Chef at El Celler de Can Roca said: “On our travels, the local crew is essential to the El Celler de Can Roca experience. We are delighted to be working with Westminster Kingsway College with its reputation for excellence among London restaurateurs.”
Westminster Kingsway College students will be working as part of a team of 35 from El Celler, who will be serving an 18 course dinner to 60 guests each night, influenced by local cuisine. Alongside the students, Joan will be assisted by his younger brother, award-winning pastry chef Jordi, while wines will be chosen by brother Josep. The brothers will also provide a cookery masterclass at the College for students and media.
Gary Hunter, Vice Principal of Hospitality and Adult Programmes at Westminster Kingsway College, commented: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Westminster Kingsway College to work with one of the greatest restaurants in the world. I am confident our students will add something to the El Celler de Can Roca experience.”
The brothers’ visit to London and their work with local schools and colleges is part of the BBVA-El Celler de Can Roca World Tour 2016. For the month of August, the Girona restaurant will close and El Celler de Can Roca will travel across the world with global bank BBVA to bring its cuisine to locations important to the brothers and the bank, to demonstrate their shared values: responsibility, innovation, commitment, a global outlook, leadership and the desire to excel. Now in its’ third year, the tour travels to Hong Kong, Phoenix, San Francisco and Santiago de Chile, as well as London.