Come dine like kings with Ottery students

Monday, 22 October 2012

by Laura Goldsbury Noy

CATERING students at the King’s School in Ottery St Mary have been gearing up for one of their biggest challenges as they prepare to host a charity dinner at the Salty Monk in Sidford.

The event, which is to be held on Tuesday November 13th, has seen students working hard to perfect their cookery skills, trialling dishes and finalising menus as well as learning how to wait and serve on guests with a level of professionalism expected at the Salty Monk.

The venture came around when owner of the Salty Monk, Andy Witheridge and his wife Annette, attended the students’ restaurant night at the school and were impressed with the high quality of service and food. With this is mind, Mr Witheridge felt the students deserved a real opportunity to work in a professional kitchen environment and the idea was born.

The budding chefs have generated a huge amount of support from the local area, and have a long line up of guests with up to 55 covers on the night.

Top chef, Peter Gorton is just one of the many special guests who will arrive on the night and local suppliers have also come out to support the venture. Christopher Piper of Wines of Ottery St Mary will be donating all the wines for the evening; Forest Produce of Broadhembury will be donating nearly all the ingredients for the meal and Channel Fisheries of Brixham will be donating the seafood.

A charity auction will also be held on the night to boost funds with a list of donated prizes including spa vouchers, dinners for two, an Alan Cotton print, a signed photo of Olympian Mary King and a signed Exeter Chief’s Rugby shirt.

King’s School catering teacher, Deborah Capon has been overwhelmed with the support and is grateful to all who have donated or supported the venture. She said: “It is an opportunity to raise a positive profile for food in schools. So often the public are led to believe that food teaching in schools is of a poor quality and even the government seem to value it less and less.

“It is important for people to see that a good job is being done in some schools and the good that food can bring to students and their future is recognised. We are very proud of our students and what they produce and this a fantastic opportunity for us.”

The charity dinner will raise money for two local charities- The Devon freewheeler and The Baton. Money will also go to the school’s catering department and the partner school in Ethiopia.

The menu will consist of seven courses and will all be homemade from the canapés on arrival to the petit fours with coffee. Tickets are available at a cost of £40 per head to include wines. To reserve your space call The Salty Monk on 01395 513174.

Email: pulmans@tindlenews.co.uk

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