Central Sussex College apprentice poaches tips from Marco Pierre White

24/02/2010

Chris Currell perfects Marco Pierre White's signature dish - Eggs Benedict

An apprentice chef based at the Crawley campus, who currently works at The Hever Hotel and Country Club in Edenbridge, joined 14 others from across the country to attend a masterclass this morning with Michelin starred chef Marco Pierre White at his London restaurant 'Wheelers.'

Chris Currell joined fourteen other budding chefs to spend the morning in the kitchen at Wheelers learning how to prepare a range of dishes from the restaurant's a la carte menu, from Pierre White and his team.

An ex apprentice himself and the youngest chef ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars, Pierre White is a keen advocate of Apprenticeships, and recommends aspiring chefs to seriously consider taking one. So much so, he is now starring in a new advertising campaign for Apprenticeships.

"It was a pleasure to meet the fifteen apprentices," says Pierre White, who spent all morning with the apprentices. "In my opinion, an Apprenticeship is a passport to a future career. Apprenticeships are the future."

The viral campaign consists of three films showing how Pierre White's life could have been without his Apprenticeship. The films feature him operating a burger van, a world away from the haute cuisine restaurants he usually inhabits. The films can be seen at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

For the lucky fifteen, the masterclass has given them a day to remember. Throughout the morning, Pierre White gave an insight into his experience as an Apprentice, advising the youngsters on how to enhance their prospects.

Commenting on the day's events, South East representative Chris said "I've found it really good so far. It's made me feel proud to be an apprentice chef and part of this profession."

Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service described Marco as a shining light in the Apprenticeship community, adding that "Marco's success is proof of what Apprenticeships can do for young people. He is a great advocate for us and we are delighted he agreed to feature in our new campaign.'

View videos of Marco as 'The CCTV chef' portraying a different life to what he has now had he not done an apprenticeship.

Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCAMyHTeGHQ

Video 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOxBh-T5kKc

Video 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCAMyHTeGHQ