College restaurant offers the Michelin star treatment

BISHOP AUCKLAND, U.K. - June 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Thirty five guests experienced the Michelle star treatment last night at a special launch event at Bishop Auckland College’s restaurant.

Award winning chef James Close ran the kitchen at the restaurant, where the diners enjoyed a five course taster menu showcasing food from the North East’s only Michelin star venue – The Raby Hunt at Summerhouse near Darlington.

James has joined forces with the college to help deliver its new Level 5 HND Hospitality Management course, running a Michelin Masterclass for students on the two year programme which starts in September.

To launch the new partnership, he worked with catering students at his own restaurant last weekend to prepare last night’s special menu. James and his team, assisted by catering and hospitality students, then cooked and served the food at the college restaurant for their guests, who included local headteachers, chefs, business leaders and journalists.

Self taught James, 32, who is Chef Patron at The Raby Hunt, found out it had been awarded the coveted accolade in the Michelin Guide 2013 last September – the first for the region in three years.

Dishes offered at the 30-seat Grade II-listed venue include those on a seven course tasting menu which boasts such delicacies as ox cheek, scallop with caviar and black radish, pan-fried wood pigeon with liver parfait and beetroot, rare-breed suckling pig and rich chocolate bar with popcorn ice cream.

James agreed to pass on his skills and experience to catering and hospitality students at the college, where his commis chef Lewis Thompson trained, after being approached by head of catering and hospitality Graeme Trevor.

He agreed to run the Michelin Masterclass and also advise on a makeover for the former Mitre restaurant, which was relaunched last night as a bijou bistro called Ambition.

Natalie Davison, Principal of Bishop Auckland College, said: “It was a great evening, with superb food and excellent service. Our catering and hospitality students clearly got a huge buzz from working with James Close, who is a great role model for them.

“We are delighted he has agreed to work with us to help us further develop our catering and hospitality curriculum and inspire the next generation of talented chefs and hospitality managers. Bishop Auckland College is absolutely committed to helping people aim high and fulfil their ambitions.”

Level 2 catering student Craig Hetherington added: “This was a fantastic experience and an opportunity to see food prepared to the highest level, which confirmed my ambition and desire to become a top chef within the industry.”

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For more information contact Chris Jennings at chris@cian-pr.co.uk or on (0191) 340 8422.