The Craft Guild of Chefs, the leading Chefs’ Association in the UK, put on the event in collaboration with the school food charity Chefs in Schools, Loughborough College and their chef lecturer Darren Creed. The organisations hosted the dinner at the Craft Guild accredited Radmoor Restaurant, at the Leicestershire-based college, on 4 November 2021.

The attendees were served (all dishes have been served in schools):

• Chicken shawarma pies - pickled baby turnips - coriander
• Bourek spring rolls with whipped feta dip and mint oil
• Koji chicken wings with corn ribs and gochujang ketchup
• Sourdough scones with nettle butter and pea and ricotta edible garden
• Baked hake with Maltese potatoes
• Stuffed aubergine with Maltese potatoes
• Butternut squash and cardamom bites
• Passion Fruit Pavlova

The event aimed to raise awareness of the food being served in schools and how the industry offers a creative and challenging career to chefs. Twenty percent of the ticket sales were donated to Chefs in Schools - raising over £250 for the charity.

Steve Smith, michelin starred chef from the Latymer Restaurant & member of the education and training committee at the Craft Guild of Chefs, said: “It was a fabulous evening and also a brilliant insight into the food that can be served to young people in schools. It’s important to show what is possible in school food and how lunchtime can be a vital opportunity for food education.”

In the kitchen on the night were the charity’s chef trainers, 15 students from the college and Chef Darren Creed working together to recreate the dishes that are served to hundreds of children in schools every week.

Nicole Pisani, co-founder of Chefs in Schools, explained: “At Chefs in Schools we firmly believe that school food should be food that rivals restaurant food and is something everyone wants to eat. 

“The event was a welcome opportunity to showcase the food that we prepare in our schools and to highlight how creative school food can be. As well as looking beautiful, this food is nutritious and designed to fuel brains as well as to fill bellies.”

Loughborough College has an onsite commercial restaurant which prepares students for the industry. Food education is a passion of their lecturer Darren Creed, the Craft Guild of Chefs and Chefs in Schools.

Darren Creed, curriculum manager for hospitality and travel at Loughborough College, added : “The food the students served up for the event was superb. They also learned a whole menu of new dishes with great flavours and creative presentation.”

The Craft Guild of Chefs has members from all aspects of the foodservice and hospitality industry. They’ve recently started to support Chefs in Schools and to fundraise for the charity.

Naomi Duncan, Chief Executive of Chefs in Schools, commented: “A huge thank you to all involved in pulling off such a successful evening. To the Craft Guild, the chefs in the kitchen and everyone who worked tirelessly to make the event so enjoyable for all. 

“Events like these allow us to step back and appreciate all the many people who are committed to fuelling future generations and supporting the mission to transform school food for the better.”

It is hoped the event will be the first in a series at hospitality colleges around the UK.