Students to learn from top chefs

FOUR Shetland College UHI students will travel south next month for a week-long work placement with top British chefs.

George McIvor, who was in Shetland at the weekend for the food festival, has been the key to helping arrange the placements for the students.

The students, who are each close to completing their SVQ in professional cookery, will have the opportunity to refine and develop their skills further.

Each will be working in a four or five star establishment with Gleneagles being suggested as one of the destinations.

Shetland College UHI section head for hospitality and tourism Gordon Stark said: “We have been working on this project for six months so it’s great to now see it happening.

“If this trip is successful we hope this partnership will continue to allow students to experience the top layers of the catering industry.

We are very grateful to George McIvor for all his help in arranging this and HIE for giving funding towards the travel costs.”

Among the students are Carlyn Johnson from Frankie’s fish and chip cafe in Brae and Andy Sandison from Brae High School canteen.

Carlyn and Andy were among students who helped with preparation work for Mr McIvor, a former chairman of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. He was assisted by Grampian’s Chef of the Year 2007 David Littlewood, executive chef at the accomplished Milton Restaurant, Crathes, who won the Junior Chef of the Year title in 2002. Andy said: “It was a great experience to work alongside professionals such as George McIvor and learn from the experts.” Carlyn added: “The food theatre was an excellent experience and it’s brilliant that George McIvor is now giving Andy, myself and two more students a chance to sample working life in a five-star kitchen.”