WINNER: THE KITCHEN AT READING COLLEGE SPONSORED BY CREAMThe Kitchen is a student-run project which sees them hone their culinary skills with support from teaching staff with industry experience.
Members of the public are able to attend the restaurant, with menus designed to challenge the chefs with versatile dishes.
Hayden Rushby and Paul Foley, hospitality lecturers at Reading College, attended to collect the award.
Mr Foley said: “It was a real privilege to be here and to accept this award on behalf of the students.
“I did feel nervous but it’s fantastic to be here and we’re grateful we didn’t have to make a speech.
“The people that should be recognised more than anyone is the students– we’re here to do the job of providing training and skills that hey need for when they leave us and go into employment.
“The best part of it all is seeing them go on to great things.”
He continued: “I think also being able to provide the service is a great part of it; we’ve got some loyal customers who know the restaurant. they’re 16-18 year-old who train to work at restaurant standards, but we’re still something of a well-kept secret.
“This is for the students, of course, as well as the whole hospitality team–it’s not just the two of us.
“We’re grateful to work with great colleagues.”
Mr Rushby said: “For them to be noticed for what they’re doing and how creative they’re being is so good.
“To see the students at the start, with their first interaction as part of a production kitchen environment, and then going onto to the end of the year and potentially moving on to their next thing– it’s just great to see.”
