Tuesday 9 March 2010

Devil's Kitchen Raises Most Charity Cash Yet!

Competition was fierce at Forth Valley College last Friday (March 5) when two teams of hospitality and catering students clashed in their annual charity Devil’s Kitchen event.

But, despite the added spice of the rivalry between the Red and Blue teams battling it out to impress 100 paying guests with top quality dishes on the night, they managed to raise more cash for CHAS and student funds than the previous two years of the event.

Aiveen McAllister, Curriculum Quality Leader in Hospitality, said: “It was a great night enjoyed by the customers, staff and students alike. Everyone was on top form in the kitchen and in those serving the food. The Blue team led by Scott Dougall eventually came out on top, but Mandy Fraser’s Reds were not too far behind.

“More importantly we have top last year’s money raising efforts, so that’s great news for CHAS and the student funds. We can’t wait for next year and have already started planning.”

Based on the popular TV show ‘Hells Kitchen’ and organised by the College’s hospitality area – the Training Restaurant in the college’s Middlefield Building in Falkirk was the perfect venue for the competition.

Two teams - the Blues and the Reds – were be tasked with preparing and serving a three course meal to 100 hungry diners, who paid £32.50 for ticket and were welcomed with a smile and a glass of fizzy wine. Teams comprised of 20 students in total, with nine in the kitchen and nine serving in the restaurant and two on dishwashing duty.

Each team ha responsibility for separate areas of the audience and the guests were able to watch the live action from the kitchen via screens set up in the restaurant before being asked to judge the teams. Marks were given for the presentation and quality of the food and also the service they received.

Last year the Blue team was led to victory by Lecturer Scott Dougall with the Red team fronted by his colleague George Scott. However, this year George failed to recover in time from a leg injury sustained recently, to take revenge on his rival. However an able stand-in chef was found in the shape of lecturing chef Mandy Fraser who ran Scott very close with her Red team.

Winner Scott said: “Yes my Blue team were successful once again, but the real winners on the night are the CHAS charity, the students for the experience the received and the customers who had a great meal and an enjoyable evening’s entertainment. Mandy and her Red team were brilliant and could well have pipped us at the end.”

Mandy added: “I had a great time. I have never participated in anything like this before and really enjoyed the high pressure competition. It was a great experience from the students who I think will have taken a lot out of the event. It’s a pity we didn’t win, but Scott and his Blue team were very sharp.”

Two students from the Falkirk area also lined up against each other on the night. Jackie Horrocks (19) from Carronshore and Graeme Probert (23) from Grangemouth – both studying for an NQ in Professional Food Preparation – posed with utensils at the ready before the cooking started.

Jackie said: “It was totally amazing, really stressful but good fun and it was a great taste of what it would be like in a busy professional kitchen.”

Graeme added: “It was really great fun, but there was a huge amount of pressure which made you perform at the top of your game. I have seen the TV version and it was pretty similar to that, but probably with a little less effing and blinding!”

Tags: Access and progression, Current students, Event, Falkirk, Full-time