Skill Builders - Events
This years Young Chef visit was to Windsor Castle.
We took a group of eight chefs on Monday the 23rd of February by coach to Windsor Castle where we were met by Mr Tony Wise, one of the Wardens of Windsor Castle, who gave a most informative talk about the Castle as we made our way through to the kitchens where he described how some of the great state banquets are arranged and prepared by the Executive Chef, Mark Flanagan, and about how it get from the kitchens to the various rooms used for banquets.
Because of security we aren't allowed to take pictures inside the Castle but hope you get the idea from these two.
These are just a couple of shots taken in the grounds of Windsor Castle with the young chefs who all were very interested to see the layout and set up for such an impressive and high profile banqueting venue but which also caters for all the staff. We have been very lucky indeed to be able to see parts of the Castle that are not open to the general public and we'd like to say thank you very much for this once ion alifetime opportunity.
2008 has been a busy year with Afterschool Clubs in Ludlow and Tenbury Wells, a visit to London for the young chef winners from the past six years and of course the Education Day activites for the Food Festival and the Young Chef Contest2008. Our most unusual activity has been our founder lending his skills on a trip to the very rural - almost medieval - transylvanian region of Rumania
The Year started with us taking a group of past young chef winners to London, we had been very lucky to have been granted private visits to the home of the Prince of Wales, Clarence House and The Queen, Buckingham Palace.
We were given guided tours of the regions that the public never see - the kitchens, still room, china stores, silver and gilt room together with talks and demonstrations on how they care for the very old dinner services and silverware, how they prepare for a state banquet, how they cater for the some 350 members of staff and all aspects of the running of the catering operations of both these very different homes.
We were also treated to lunch in Buckingham Palace - same as the staff would get - a big treat for us. We finished off with a private tour of the state rooms and what sort of events would be held in them as well as a history of the palace and of its wonderful furniture and paintings.
The next day we visited Claude and Claire Bosi's new Mayfair Hibiscus with a chat from Claude about how he and Claire set it up and a tour of the kitchens and prep rooms, a beautiful setting indeed.
After this we went on to meet our MP, Philip Dunne, for a chat and who had arranged for us to have a tour of the kitchens which service both the Houses of Parliament and Houses of Commons
The group outside buckingham Palace - we're not allowed to take photos inside sadly.
We're not allowed to take photos inside the Houses of Parliament either so it's us outside again.
After this we started on the afterschool clubs, this year for the first time running in two towns, Ludlow and Tenbury Wells. We give them 10 sessions on topics such as butchery, bakery, spices, desserts and lots more. More about these will appear on the projects page in the towns own sections.
Next our founder, Graeme Perks, went with a group of traditional craftsmen and students to Rumania for two weeks to help repair some of their timber framed buildings and pass on some skills so that they may carry on the good work, you can find more about this by clicking on the Sectors tab and the click on traditional building skills.
Coming soon the education day and young chefs contest 2008.
The Entrants and Judges of the 2007 Young Chef Contest.
One of our most popular events, the Young Chefs Contest, which is once again generously supported by Bart Spices and held at the Ludlow Food and Drink Festival is looking for entrants, if you are aged 16 - 25, working as or training to be a chef and within 40 miles of Ludlow complete this form and return it to us, you'll find all the details on the form. Click here for PDF form..
Historically in the rural areas, relative isolation has resulted in us maintaining many of the working traditions from the past such as baking, metal work, sewing and cooking. While these are taught in school, we very often only show this off to the converted - parents and grandparents. Skillbuilders believes that by placing many schools together at the same time, more best practice can be shared.
This prepares the pupils for possible college and vocational experiences all showcased together.