Three teenagers from Glencryan School in Cumbernauld tested their catering skills against Kenny Coltman, head chef at the Caledonian Hilton Hotel in Edinburgh, in a Ready, Steady, Cook-style challenge last month.
The “cook-off” took place at the school’s restaurant - Le Bistro - and was judged by food critic and Motherwell-born broadcaster Tam Cowan.
The aspiring chefs, who learned their skills on the school’s vocational training programme, challenged Kenny to serve up a tastier open sandwich than their own creation in less than 30 minutes from a set list of ingredients. The Glencryan pupils were declared winners for their Scandinavian open sandwich.
A professional kitchen and bistro were established at the school last year with funding from the European Structural Fund, allowing pupils to further develop their skills serving food to the public.
Pupils at Glencryan School, who all have special educational needs, have the opportunity to learn vocational skills in areas such as catering, beauty therapy and horticulture as part of the Bridging the Gap project. This is delivered with support from Lanarkshire Catering School and Cumbernauld College. Pupils develop skills in a working environment to make the transition from school to employment easier.
