Pastry Box and Coffee stand promotes Stirling Good Food Fortnight

Two groups of students were able to put their skills to good use on a pop-up stand to promote Stirling Good Food Fortnight recently.

The Pastry Box and Coffee stand which appeared at the Stirling Campus on the morning of Friday 6 March, was well attended by students and staff alike.

The event allowed the NPA Professional Cookery students to bake cakes, cookies and dessert delights for eager customers, and helped the Airline and Airport Operations (school students) to perfect their Barista coffee making and serving skills.

Those wishing to sample the food on offer were asked to apply online for a ticket which they could present at the stand and receive a coffee and item of food of their choice. Any donations of money taken on the day will be given to the MacMillan Cancer Support.

Stirling Food Fortnight (1-14 March 2026) has been organised to celebrate the stories, flavours, and future of Stirling’s food - and is part of the wider Food Drink Tourism Month 20206 - and more events can be found here: Stirling Good Food Fortnight 2026 - Your Stirling.

Erin Hynds (15), who is on the Airline and Airport Operations course, said: “It has been really nice learning Barista skills in more details. It will help me when I do my assessment for real. I think it is a good idea to get involved with Stirling Food Fortnight.”

Emily Imrie (16), who is on the same course, said: “I have found this quite fun and enjoyable. I liked making the coffees and taking the orders and these are things we will need to know to become airport ground staff in the future.”

Lecturer Carolyn Taylor, said: “Our students studying Barista Skills and Skills for Customer Care, recently had the opportunity to build on their knowledge by operating a professional Barista coffee machine and serving drinks to staff, fellow students, and members of the public.

“This invaluable hands-on experience allowed students to develop their practical skills while building confidence in a real working environment. The group engaged positively with customers, asking thoughtful and appropriate questions when taking drink orders, and demonstrated excellent Barista technique alongside strong Customer Care skills throughout the service. Students also showed a high level of awareness in relation to safe working practices while working in a busy service setting.

“As part of this activity, the students were proud to support Macmillan Cancer Support, raising a total of £115 through their coffee and cake service. This experience will ultimately support learners as they progress towards their next Barista Skills and Customer Care assessment, helping them to build on their knowledge, practical ability, confidence — and enjoyment — within a professional hospitality setting.”

Chef Lecturer, Ruari Chatburn, added: “The coffee and pastry box was a great event for the NPA Professional Cookery students.  The idea gave them the opportunity to showcase some of the skills they have been learning this year and boosted their confidence in producing high quality items.”

One of the foodie highlights of the month will be Chefs of the Future, taking place on Tuesday 10 March at Forth Valley College. This invitation-only event offers employers a unique opportunity to sample dishes prepared by hospitality students and meet the next generation of culinary talent.

Karyn King, Operations Manager for Forth Valley College said: “Chefs of the Future is a fantastic opportunity for our students to showcase their skills in a real-world setting while building meaningful connections with local employers.

“Events like this help bridge the gap between education and industry, demonstrating the high calibre of talent coming through our hospitality programmes.”

For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/fooddrinktourismmonth26.