Past and present students cooked alongside guest chef Andy Mackenzie for a special lunch on Thursday 3 May.
Andy Mackenzie has worked at Lainston House Hotel for 27 years, and has put together the Exclusive Chefs academy, which is developed to take talented chefs from commis chefs to chef de partie on a two-year programme.
Andy is passionate about using high quality ingredients sourced from local producers in Hampshire and surrounding areas.
He has been named Hampshire Life Chef of the year for two years running, and was one of the founding members of the Create and Cook competition which is aimed at inspiring 12-14 year old school children in Hampshire, Sussex and the Isle of Wight to cook great local food.
Speaking before the four-course lunch, Andy said: “I have been working with HSDC for many years and I have known lecturer Iain Baillie for about 30 years, so it is excellent to come back and forge the relationship we have with HSDC. It feels like coming home, like a family!”
“I have brought two of my academy chefs with me today, it is great to see how far they have come in the two years and also for current students to see where they could be in a couple year’s time.
“I take 12 talented students each year into the academy and turn them from commis chefs to chef de partie on the academy programme. It is all about using quality ingredients with quality chefs.”
For more information on the College restaurant, click here.