CATERING students are putting the culinary skills learnt on a fact-finding trip to New York to good effect as they plan a charity dinner.
Level 3 professional cookery students from Darlington College will host a charity dining experience, for around 50 covers, at the Glasshouse Restaurant, from 6pm on May 19.
Proceeds will be donated to St Teresa’s Hospice, which needs to raise £3m a year to provide free in-patient and community care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.
Darlington College senior lecturer Dawn Cobb-Neate said: “So many people at the college have had their lives affected by cancer and St Teresa’s does such a lot to help them and their families. It’s great for the students to be able to give something back to the community and have the chance to showcase the skills they have learnt in college and on a recent trip to New York.”
The menu will feature a lamb broth starter, a fish course of pan-seared monkfish, Thai salmon fishcakes with sesame greens. The main course will feature braised lamb shank with redcurrant and port jus with seasonal vegetables, or steak Diane with Pommes Anna and asparagus. The dessert includes baked vanilla cheesecake with berry compote and raspberry sorbet, or chocolate brownie, ice cream, caramel sauce and chocolate shard. Coffee will be accompanied by macarons which students learned how to make in New York.
Dawn said: “For many of the students it was the first time they had left the country. We visited a French patisserie called Atelier Sucre which was stunning. The 10 students underwent master classes and workshops learning how to make pizza, Macarons, French fruit tarts and Madeleines using American techniques that differ from ours. These new skills they are putting into practice straight away and they will prove invaluable at the St Teresa’s dinner.”
Students also visited an ice hockey match, a baseball game, the 911 memorial site, the Empire State building, the Natural History Museum and the Statue of Liberty.
They experienced a variety of restaurants ranging from fine dining at the Bluebird London NYC, which overlooks Central Park, to Ellen’s Stardust Diner at which the serving staff perform a variety of Broadway musicals, and Hard Rock Café.
Dawn said: “The whole experience is one they will remember for the rest of their lives, particularly as they had to fundraise to go on the trip, plan their own itinerary and are now using their new skills to help a much-loved charity.”
Student Chloe Dowson, 17, of Bishop Auckland, said: “It was the first time I’ve been to New York and I learnt a great deal which will help me with my future career.”
Batu Sunbul, 18, of Harrogate, added: “New York was absolutely brilliant and I particularly enjoyed Hard Rock Café; the atmosphere was amazing and I feel I’ve picked up a lot. I’m hoping to study level 4 cookery and one day hope to own my own restaurant locally. I love being involved in events and I’m looking forward to hosting the dinner for St Teresa’s which is a great charity to support.”
Anyone wanting to book a table for the event should ring (01325) 503050.