Our Hospitality & Catering students were recently given an exciting opportunity to take part in an inspiring professional chef’s masterclass with Chef James Holden from Academy of Culinary Arts.

The session provided students with a fantastic insight into the standards, techniques and precision expected within a professional kitchen. Working alongside an experienced chef, students were challenged to develop their culinary skills while producing two impressive restaurant-quality dishes.

The first dish was a beautifully presented Chicken Ballotine, accompanied by fondant potato, celeriac purée, tenderstem broccoli and a carefully prepared mustard  sauce. Students developed a range of advanced skills, including preparing and shaping the chicken, achieving precise cooking, creating smooth purées and mastering the technique required to produce a perfectly cooked fondant potato.

The second course was a stunning Citrus Lemon Tart with Italian meringue. Students explored the balance of flavours and textures, creating a delicate citrus tart before finishing it with a light, glossy Italian meringue. This challenged students to demonstrate accuracy, patience and attention to detail — particularly when working with pastry and meringue.

The masterclass was a fantastic opportunity for students to experience professional culinary techniques first-hand, build confidence and understand how the skills they develop in the classroom can translate directly into a career within the hospitality industry.

A huge thank you to Chef James Holden and Academy of Culinary Arts for inspiring our students and sharing their expertise. Our students rose to the challenge brilliantly, demonstrating creativity, resilience, teamwork and an impressive commitment to achieving professional standards.

We are incredibly proud of the quality of work produced and look forward to providing our students with many more opportunities to work with industry professionals and develop their culinary skills.

Chefs Masterclass