School Chef of The Year enjoys Mayfair Michelin experience

Steven Cross, the winner of the 2019 LACA School Chef of The Year (SCOTY) competition, spent the day cooking with Alyn Williams at the Westbury in the Westbury Hotel Mayfair as part of this year’s Host A Host a School Chef programme.

The programme, sponsored by Alaska Seafood, offers school chefs across England and Wales the opportunity to spend the day in some of the most exclusive restaurants in the country, working alongside some of the most celebrated chefs in the catering industry.

“We have been involved with Host a School Chef from day one when LACA first introduced it”, said Alyn “and there is no doubt it is a great way for caterers in whatever part of our industry they work, to share knowledge and experience and discuss new techniques that can benefit all. Steven and the team in the kitchen here have worked together brilliantly today and we have enjoyed having him along. He is clearly a talented chef who has had a lot of experience in the industry”

Steven, who cooks at Park Community School in Havant, said: “What a tremendous day and it is such a pity that it has gone so quickly. I cannot thank Alyn, Head Chef Tom Booton and all the rest of the team enough for giving me such a great experience. In addition I must thank LACA and our sponsors Alaska Seafood for making this all possible, without their significant input none of the school caterers across England and Wales would be able to experience this and I hope all my colleagues have an experience as good as mine.”

Alyn is an ambassador for Alaska Seafood and he and Steven are looking at ways to develop fish recipes that are School Food Standard compliant to encourage more children to eat good, healthy, nutritious seafood and help improve diets.