Michelin culinary experience enjoyed by student chef, Callum

A cooking student gave up his Easter holidays to spend time working at a Michelin two star restaurant owned by renowned celebrity chef, Heston Blummenthal.  Callum Milnes who studies at Kidderminster Academy spent two weeks at the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park developing his skills as a pastry chef.

“Being in this restaurant has been an amazing experience,” said the 19-year-old from Hallow who has been studying advanced professional cookery.  “It’s exactly the type of environment I want to work in after I’ve finished my course.

He continued:  “I’ve learned a lot more about working in a busy kitchen where standards are really high.  It’s made me even more aware of the need to pay attention to detail with the dishes I create from now on so that each one is as perfect as the next.

“I was really grateful for this opportunity.”

Mandarin Oriental is one of only 21 restaurants in the UK to hold two Michelin stars, while Dinner, Heston Blummenthal’s restaurant menu, was voted fifth in the San Pellegrino world’s 50 best restaurants 2014.

Chris Hughes, Chef Lecturer at Kidderminster Academy said: “This insight into fine dining has been an amazing experience for Callum.  We congratulate him on the professional conduct he displayed throughout his placement and for being such a great student ambassador of the Academy.”

The placement which was organised by staff at the Academy gave Callum the chance to learn recipes, try new cooking techniques as well as prepare and plate food.

Callum added: “Pastry dishes are my speciality, so I was really pleased I got to work on these at the restaurant.  I like the techniques you carry out to create these sorts of dishes.  There’s a lot of finesse involved, which is what I’d like to be known for during my career.

“After three years of study, I’m definitely ready to go into industry.  Hopefully my dream job will soon come my way.”

A Cookery Academy session for young chefs will be running at Kidderminster Academy on Saturday 7 June.