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Wednesday 22nd October 2008
Head Chef Chris Allinson and Sous Chef Gerard Everley from the 2 AA rosette Gallery restaurant at the Cavendish hotel, on the Chatsworth estate, have joined niche caterer Wilson Vale at the highly rated Birkdale school in Sheffield.
Commenting on such an extraordinary move Andrew Wilson of Wilson Vale explained: “We are delighted to have two such talented chefs join us. Their outstanding skills and passion for fresh local food helped put the Cavendish hotel on the map. I am confident the same passion will deliver exceptional healthy food for the pupils and staff at Birkdale; indeed it already is. The feedback we are getting since starting in September is amazing.”
Wilson Vale won the contract for the catering at the school in April. The bursar, David Taylor decided the best way to meet the continuing demand for healthy, freshly prepared food for over 800 pupils and staff was to bring in experts. The school set aside money for a refurbishment of the kitchen and dining rooms and invited catering companies to submit proposals.
Wilson Vale’s commitment to using freshly prepared local food and their understanding of the importance the school placed on using the lunch service to bring the school together in a convivial and harmonious atmosphere ensured they were the clear winners.
Rather than employ traditional school chefs Wilson Vale took the unusual decision to recruit highly skilled restaurant chefs. They believed that the skills needed to run an award winning kitchen, such as emphasis on presentation, attention to detail and a determination to produce the best possible food, were the same as needed to feed 800 very demanding students.
The success of this strategy was confirmed by the headmaster Mr Robert Court:
“The morale of the school is directly affected by the quality of the catering and since Wilson Vale’s appointment morale has never been higher. They have truly exceeded expectations.”
Head chef Chris had the last word:
“I love working here. There are different challenges to those I faced at the restaurant but at the end of the day it is all about the quality of the food, freshness of the ingredients and pleasing the customer day in and day out. I have complete freedom to purchase locally but with the added resources and support of Wilson Vale behind me. I also get to see my family again!”
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