Student Dinner & AGM
April 24, 2013
Our host for the evening is Professor David Foskett MBE Associate Dean of UWL and the Vice Chancellor Peter Johns hopes to be there, subject to other commitments. Pillars restaurant is an educational environment where students can learn the classical art of fine service and culinary practices, whilst offering guests an elegant dining experience. This unique classroom provides the students with an authentic platform in which to learn: restaurant management; time management ; team building and other vital practical skills.
Their menus and service styles are designed by highly trained chef and restaurant lecturers to meet the different learning needs and career goals of their students.
Derek Quelch will be our Executive Head Chef for the evening and, as you will see from the following information, we are very lucky he will be in charge of the students preparing our Dinner.
Derek Quelch began his career at Flounders Restaurant in Covent Garden, before moving to Grosvenor House, The Savoy Grill and The Mayfair Intercontinental Hotel.
Following a spell in France, Switzerland and Germany working in renowned hotels such as the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, Hotel les Airelles in Courchevel, Badrutt’s Palace in St Moritz and Kempinski Hotel in Berlin, Derek returned to his home turf to spend four years as Sous Chef at The Savoy and two and a half years as Executive Sous Chef at Claridges.
Derek was appointed Executive Head Chef at The Goring in June 1998. Derek’s career has gone from strength to strength and he has introduced unique ideas such as The Goring Food Tours where Derek, along with Jeremy Goring, makes regular tours of Britain, getting his boots muddy seeking out the highest quality local produce to serve at The Goring. This has resulted in The Goring being voted British Restaurant of the Year 2005 by ITV/Tio Pepe and being regularly featured in guides as one of the top British restaurants in London. The Goring is the only hotel to hold a Royal Warrant from the Queen.
Derek does considerable work with the community, teaching children to cook in Great Ormond Street Hospital and local London schools, sharing his passion for the art of cooking with children whose lives are otherwise difficult and every day a challenge. Derek is also a member of The Academy of Culinary Arts, Chairman of the Education Committee and on the Committee for Chefs’ Adopt-A-School and an honorary fellow at the University of West London.
Chef sits on the judging panels, is an individual judge, for several competitions for young, aspiring chefs and has been involved in television, such as Masterchef, The Apprentice and alongside Delia Smith.
It has become our practice, for College Dinners only, to show our appreciation of the students’ work by organising a tronc for them at the end of the evening.
The Keith Perry Trophy will be awarded as in previous years.
Dress will be black tie.
