Students work with MasterChef champ to serve up VIP meal

More than 30 students from University College Birmingham (UCB) have worked with MasterChef: The Professionals winner Dan Lee to prepare a five-course feast for VIP guests from across Birmingham.

Dan, who studied at Birmingham College of Food 12 years ago and won series 14 of MasterChef: The Professionals, returned to the kitchen and spent two days helping the next generation of chefs studying Level 3 Professional Cookery hone their skills for the special dinner at the University's award-winning restaurant.

Served by Level 3 front of house students, the complex dishes comprised a starter of BBQ king oyster mushroom with sweet potato and chive, a main of soy cured beef or aubergine with champ and pak choi and a smoked hay treacle tart dessert.

Between courses, each table of guests, which included leading lights from the NHS, food bloggers, as well as Chamber chief executive, Henrietta Brealey, had the opportunity to visit the kitchen and see Dan and the students at work.

After the plates were cleared, Dan led the students out to rapturous applause.

He said: "This is my menu with bits I've made on MasterChef. I gave the students a prep list and they turned it out. I'm talking dishes that I was stressing over, losing my head. But the students took it on board, took the recipes, and made the food you ate this evening.

"I had a bit of a hand, but it was the students' technique and skills that make it happen. They're incredible. The chefs that are coming through right now from this college are miles ahead of where I was at the time and it's exciting. It's been such a privilege to work with them."

Kali Davidson, head of Birmingham College of Food, said: “The past few years have been extremely challenging for hospitality and having Dan come back to show students that they could have an exciting future in the profession ahead of them was invaluable. ”

Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food is open to the public and has five stars on TripAdvisor, which lists it as the 24th best restaurant in the city.

Discover the full range of courses Birmingham College of Food offer.

Students who worked with Dan Lee on the night:

Kitchen

Billy Battle

Georgia Beaman

Patricija Emule

Aidan Facer

Tom Hassall

Callum Masters

Jake Rouse

Kieran Sampson

Vicky Slim

Adam Zaman

Pastry

Scott Badger

Kieron Carter

Rebecca Davis

Adam Graystone

Matt Slim

Abigail Walton

Alicia Watt-Wallace

Front of house

Maddie Stanley

Dominic Heelas

Gemma Liszewsky

Mia McLaren

Jaydon Nelson-Lyons

Rosa Gillespie

Luke Burrows

Eleni Ivanova

Dennis Yeboah Osei

Luis Byrne

Maddie Chambers

Adam Burn

Oliver Gill

Darnell Hylton

Jamie Mcleod

Lawson Smith

Sabeya Tikamda

Maison Whiston

Lecturers

Christine Alberto

Emma Shephard

Alex Kerry