Michelin-starred chef Michae
l Caines was at King's College, Taunton, last month to open a brand new cookery school. The head chef at Gidleigh Park, which has held two Michelin stars for almost 13 years, also had the chance to sample the work of eight King's College pupils, who had spent the day producing canapes for the governors and staff who attended the event.
In association with Leiths School of Food and Wine, the new cookery school offers pupils at King's the opportunity to take part in the Leiths Basic Skills Course. King's has been granted a licence by the world-famous cookery school, and is introducing the course to groups of sixth form pupils.
In an essential preparation for university life, pupils are taught a large number of skills and techniques, such as knife skills, vegetable and meat preparation, baking and sauces, as well as menu planning exercises, and what to look for when buying ingredients.
During his visit Michael Caines said how impressed he was with the facilities that King's College can now offer, and spoke of his own passion for food and cooking, particularly in his determination to cook seasonally and with locally sourced ingredients.