Chichester College students turn waste food into fabulous meal

The college students involved with top chef Cameron Matthews and Chichester-based charity UKHarvest. All photos by Derek Martin. DM17527476a.jpg

Trainee chefs turned food destined for the bin into restaurant-class meals for hungry Chichester people.

World renowned chef Cameron Matthews was on hand to mentor catering students at Chichester College in creating a culinary master class from their on-site kitchen and restaurant.

The special pop-up event was organised by UKHarvest – a new national charity based in Chichester which redistributes quality waste food to people who need it.

CEO Yvonne Thomson, from Chichester, said: “It went really, really well.

Some of the dinner guests enjoying the meals. DM17527526a.jpg

“To have such an incredible chef as Cameron was a massive coupe and he was so impressed with the young people at the college.

“He led on the menu made from all food that would have ended up as landfill.

“I think the young people were shocked with what can be done with surplus food.”

The event, on Wednesday, June 7, was the first of many planned as part of a new collaboration with the college.

Chef Cameron Matthews and student Thomas Daniels, tasting the food. Photo by Derek Martin. DM17527510a.jpg

Yvonne said: “I have to say it was an absolute privilege working with Chichester College. It’s the start of a new alliance and the level of support was amazing.

“We are not just about rescuing food but also education, showing people what can be created from waste food and the college got that straight away.”

Australian chef Cameron – who runs a top restaurant in Brisbane – was at the college’s new £3m Café 19 and 64 Restaurant & Bar most of the day teaching the six students how to create the meal, which was then served to around 35 guests.

UKHarvest launched in March this year from homeless charity Stonepillow’s hostel St Joseph’s in Hunston Road.

Brogan Hill, left and Georgie Porter from UK Harvest. Photo by Derek Martin DM17527506a.jpg

The charity redistributes waste food from supermarkets like M&S and Waitrose to those who need it.

It helps Stonepillow feed up to 100 people each day and Yvonne says she’s amazed by its success already.

Find out more about UKHarvest here

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DM17527532a.jpg Charity UK Harvest hosts a pop up restaurant at Chichester College. Photo by Derek Martin.

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