Selby School chef, Jeanette Lee, Cooks Up a Storm at The Grand Hotel and Spa, York

CHILDREN at a North Yorkshire primary school could get a taste of haute cuisine after food their cook spent time in the kitchen of a five star hotel.

The Grand Hotel and Spa – the only hotel in York with a 5 star rating - took part in the Lead Association for CAtering in Education (LACA) ‘host a school chef’ programme playing host to Selby School's, Jeanette Lee.

The scheme offers school chefs the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the catering industry, in some of the most celebrated restaurants in the country and demonstrate that today’s education caterers are a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce.

The award winning 3 AA Rosette Hudsons by Craig Atchinson restaurant has the renowned Craig Atchinson as it its head chef.

He said: “School chefs are often the unsung heroes of the catering industry, yet do a vital job in ensuring that millions of children every day are eating a healthy, nourishing meal. I am a firm believer in sharing knowledge and improving skills, which ultimately benefit all.”

Leading specialist training and apprenticeship provider for the UK’s hospitality and catering industry, HIT Training Ltd has been instrumental in placing Jeanette in the Grand. The Ripon based company’s Simon Liversedge said: “We have supported Host a School Chef since its inception and think it is a great opportunity for education caterers to experience the world of haute cuisine. Jeanette was a student of ours and completed a catering course whilst working at Selby School and the Grand is an employer we are currently working with to deliver apprenticeships. We were in the perfect position to match up the ideal placement in Jeanette with an outstanding venue in Hudsons by Craig Atchinson.”

LACA chairman of events, Neil Porter, said: “It is tremendous for LACA to have a placement for our ‘host a school chef’ initiative at the Grand Hotel and Spa in the historic city of York.

"On behalf of the LACA board and our sponsor YPO, we would like to thank Craig Atchinson and his colleagues for being so inclusive and extending an invitation for a school chef to join them in the kitchens of this outstanding venue.

"School caterers do a great job and school meals have improved beyond all recognition over the past few years thanks to their efforts and the desire to give our children consistently good healthy food on a daily basis.

"It speaks volumes that School Chefs are recognised for having the skills and professionalism to work alongside some of the stellar names in the hospitality industry.”