Two lucky chef apprentices from Mitchells & Butlers plc, the company behind leading pub and restaurant brands such as All Bar One, Harvester, Miller & Carter and Toby Carvery, were given an amazing opportunity to showcase their skills last night by cooking a three course meal for European delegates visiting Birmingham.
Apprentices Luke Taylor and Ellen Keeling were cooking for delegates from Eurocities, who were visiting Birmingham as part of a two-day food focused seminar. The Eurocities network brings together the local Governments of over 130 of Europe’s largest cities and 40 partner cities to influence EU institutions and respond to common issues that affect the day-to-day lives of Europeans.
Held at Harborne Food School, the dinner offered apprentice chefs an opportunity to meet a wide range of European dignitaries, including representatives from Lyon, Venice and Gothenburg. They then created a three-course meal focusing around nutritious and sustainable food.
Head of Culinary Education for Mitchells & Butlers Chris Griffin said “We’re delighted to be involved in this prestigious evening, allowing our apprentices to showcase their skills to an international audience. At Mitchells & Butlers we are passionate about developing the next generation of highly skilled chefs through our Chefs’ Academy programme, and working with Harborne Food School has enabled us to provide 60 intermediate professional cookery apprenticeships this year for people in and around the Birmingham area.”.
Shaleen Meelu, of Eurocities, said ‘This has been a great opportunity for Birmingham, and the apprentices. The dinner created was thoroughly enjoyed by all’.
In the next three years, Mitchells & Butlers hope to recruit 400 learners from Birmingham onto their Chefs’ Academy programme.