Weston College was excited to welcome back professional chef Andy Chan for a special evening takeover where he led a hands-on masterclass with our Hospitality and Catering students.

Andy, who appeared on MasterChef, is now a Development Chef at Compass Foodbuy Culinary Solutions and was previously Head Chef at Thornbury Castle. With years of industry experience, he gave students a valuable opportunity to learn directly from a top-level chef in a real restaurant setting.

Students helped prepare and serve a seasonal fine dining menu that included dishes such as Butternut Squash Hummus with Roasted Balsamic Shallots, and a choice of Grilled Mackerel Fillet or King Oyster Mushroom Scallops for starters.

For the main course, guests could enjoy either Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Pomme Dauphine or a vegan-friendly Marinated Cauliflower dish with cumin spiced vegetables and vegan cheese. The evening ended with a Dark Chocolate Fondant served with Raspberry Sorbet and Chocolate Crumb.

Our students have been lucky enough to receive multiple masterclasses from Andy, allowing him to see the progression of skills and technique throughout the year. Andy said:

“I was looking forward to cooking with Pete and the students, it’s brilliant to see what they have achieved so far and challenge them on some current techniques that are used in the industry today.

The menu was designed to show the students what they can do with certain ingredients and how to get as much out of the ingredients, whilst still looking at the seasonality and availability of local produce.”

The event was a great experience for everyone involved and highlighted Weston College’s ongoing commitment to giving students the chance to learn from industry professionals and prepare for successful careers in hospitality. 

If you are interested in applying to one of our Hospitality and Catering courses, click here.

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.