Sand, Sea & Chefs’ Forum Inspired Budding Chefs

Chefs from all across Dorset and Hampshire swapped their chef jackets for wetsuits for a day of beach front cookery and water sports at the latest meeting of The Chefs’ Forum at the Sandbanks Hotel.

Fifteen students from three hospitality education providers (Bournemouth and Poole College, Highbury College and HIT Training) came together to assist Wayne Joyce, Head Chef at the Sandbanks Hotel, to prepare and the serve canapés which were enjoyed by guests during a Nyetimber reception.

Wayne said: “It has been amazing. The students did almost all of the canapés themselves. It is refreshing to see students with such enthusiasm for cooking.”

Christophe Baffos, Head of Hospitality and Tourism at Bournemouth and Poole College, said: “We have been involved with The Chefs’ Forum for the past three years and it is always a great opportunity for us to get our learners to come and work with great chefs.

After the Nyetimber reception guests were treated to a demonstration by Loic Gratadoux, Head Chef at the Harbour Heights Hotel, who prepared light and zingy Tiger Prawns with Indonesian Satay, and Wayne prepared a mouth-wateringly good Chargrilled Squid Thai Salad using a Monolith Kamado Grill.

Following the demonstrations guests were able to take advantage of the seaside location and try their hands at kayaking and paddle boarding in Poole Harbour with the neighbouring Watersports Academy.

Catherine said: “It has been great to get everyone from chefs to learners working together and swapping notes. That is the purpose of The Chefs’ Forum.”

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