Southern Regional College

Celebrity Masterclass for Junior Chefs’ Academy

Celebrated Indian chef Cyrus Todiwala made his first visit to Northern Ireland on Saturday 30 January to introduce over 100 Junior Chefs' Academy graduates and their guests to his innovative and fresh approach to Indian cuisine.

His masterclass was part of a celebration event organised by People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, which introduced the Junior Chefs' Academy programme, along with Compass Group UK & Ireland, to Northern Ireland to address a skills shortage identified in research with the industry locally.

The young chefs aged 12 to 16 graduated from Junior Chefs' Academy programmes held in each of the six regional colleges. To raise the temperature even higher at the celebration event, two young chefs from each college took part in a live cookery challenge on stage compered by James McGinn General Manager of the Europa where the celebration was held.

The Junior Chefs' Academy programme is currently funded by the Department for Employment and Learning and is an industry led initiative supported locally by The Institute of Hospitality, the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Safefood and City and Guilds.

"It was a very special occasion," said Roisin McKee. "We were delighted to be joined by Cyrus who is a committed supporter of the Junior Chefs' Academy programme. We feel it's an important part of the training to introduce potential young chefs of tomorrow to the very highest culinary cuisine of today. Cyrus is passionate about food and unior Chefs and their parents were swept up in his enthusiasm and energy for his profession."

Cyrus Todiwala OBE (Pictured below) is proprietor and executive chef of the Café Spice Namaste restaurant in London and regularly appears on BBC's Food and Drink, UK Today and Saturday Kitchen.

Talking about the event Cyrus Todiwala said:

"I've been privileged to cook alongside many Junior Chefs and I never fail to be delighted by the enthusiasm these young people demonstrate for the art of cooking. As a chef proprietor and employer it is this fresh enthusiasm we'd like to harness for the future."

Junior Chefs' Academy is part of the Future Skills Action Plan for Hospitality and Tourism launched by the Futures Skills Action Group with includes representatives from Government, Trade and Education. Congratulating the Junior Chefs' Academy graduates Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and Learning said:

"It is wonderful to see the enthusiasm that Junior Chef's Academy has created. There is a real need for programmes such as this to instil passion and interest in our young people to encourage them to consider a career in the sector.

"I congratulate all of those who have been successful on the programme and I hope that in the future many of you will come to work in the sector having been given a real flavour of what to expect."

A new series of Junior Chefs' Academy programmes begins in February in each of the regional colleges and runs until March 2010. Over a 10 week period on Saturday mornings, young people aged 12 to 16 from local schools learn basic cookery skills whilst creating fresh dishes and gain knowledge on nutrition, hygiene, health and safety, team work and communication skills.

Pictured: Cyrus Todiwala OBE, (right) who was special guest at the Junior Chefs' Academy celebration event in Belfast. Southern Regional College Junior Chefs Samuel Martin (centre) from Dromara and Jake Johnston (second right) from Newry were competitors in the live cookery challenge judged by Cyrus.

Also pictured are left to right, Roisin McKee from People 1st , Patricia McClean tutor Southern Regional College, James McGinn event compere and Andy Aston Compass Group UK and Ireland.