A celebrity chef is helping a school in Inverness to open a kitchen where pupils studying home economics can learn catering skills.

 

French-born Michelin star-winning Albert Roux is involved in the project at Charleston Academy.
 
Highland Council is giving a £40,000 grant towards the £200,000 cost of creating the semi-industrial catering kitchen.
 

The school hopes to have it up and running by 2015.
 

Once open, it will be made available to all secondary schools in Inverness and also community groups.

 

The project will also tie into Charleston Academy’s French and Gaelic language departments.
 
Mr Roux is part of a gastronomic dynasty.
 
With his brother Michel he opened Le Gavroche in London in the late 1960s and it became the first three-starred Michelin restaurant outside France.
 

Their sons, Alain and Michel, are also chefs.
 

Charleston Academy rector, Chris O’Neill, said the school had worked with Mr Roux over a number of years.
 

He said: “The new Albert Roux Kitchen will exemplify equal opportunities by bringing together different age groups and genders.
 

“Increasing numbers of boys now wish to pursue careers in hospitality and will embark on this pathway with their subject choices in school.
 

“Previously many successful people in the hospitality industry didn’t consider it as their first career choice. As the industry contributes 21% of the Highland’s economy, this can only be good for the north of Scotland.”
 

 
Young Borders Chefs Cook for World Leading Restaurateur to Win Life-Changing Bursary

ix trainee chefs cooked for Albert Roux OBE, KFO UAS and supported by Scotch Lamb.

Six trainee chefs from the Scottish Borders will today cook for Albert Roux OBE, KFO, one of the world’s greatest restaurateurs and chefs, as they compete to win the Border Union Bicentenary Roux Apprentice.

The award is arranged by the Border Union Agricultural Society (BUAS), which celebrates its bicentenary in 2013. The competition, which is being run in association with Borders College, forms part of a year-long programme of celebrations by the BUAS highlighting the agricultural industry in the region including its impressive credentials in food production.

The six contestants have already participated in heats to secure their places in the final which will lead one of them to the £6000 bursary and a 6 month placement with Scottish 2 Michelin star chef, Andrew Fairlie at his Gleneagles restaurant.  The winning student will also cook alongside Albert Roux and a brigade of other Michelin starred chefs at a special BUAS Bicentenary Banquet being held in July at the Society’s showground, Springwood Park in Kelso.

Ron Wilson, Secretary of the BUAS said: “This competition forms part of our aim to include within our bicentenary celebrations elements that will create a lasting legacy for future generations.  The student who wins this Award will have the chance to work with the finest chefs in the country, providing them with a fantastic springboard for their career.”

Vicky MacDonald, Programme Leader for Hospitality at Borders College said: ”This is an incredible opportunity for our students. It has encouraged them to use their creativity and abilities to the full in devising new dishes for the competition and the six finalists have produced some amazing food to reach this stage.”

The student chefs will each create two dishes for Albert Roux using seasonal and local ingredients in the cook-off which is being supported by Scotch Lamb.

Mr Roux said: “It is a pleasure to be in the Scottish Borders to judge this Award. Glen Watson, one of my Chef Consultants has been closely involved in the development and judging of this contest to date. Originally from Kelso and a former student at this college, he is a passionate advocate of Borders food and we are both really looking forward to tasting the dishes the students prepare today”

The six students participating in the final are: Andy Thomson from Earlston, Paulo Neves from Melrose, Chris Mitchell from Hawick, Jessica Mead from St Boswells, Lynn Frizzell from Galashiels and Ainsley Casson from Hawick.

The winner of the Border Union Bicentenary Roux Apprentice Award will be announced by the BUAS in advance of its bicentenary banquet being held at Springwood Park in Kelso as part of the annual Border Union Show (July 26 – 27 2013). In addition to the Show’s traditional competitions, activities and displays, the bicentenary event will also include a Food Fair featuring top UK chefs.