News: Nottingham diners get a taste of Italy

Anthony and Stephanie, who are both studying a Foundation Degree (FdA) in Hospitality and Visitor Economy, were tasked with creating, planning and delivering their own evening from scratch. 

Working as a team, they researched menu ideas and dishes, produced a marketing plan, worked out costings and décor, and led a team of trainee Level 2 (Professional Chefs Diploma) students to deliver the event to an almost sold-out restaurant. 

Anthony, 34, is the Assistant Manager at Hockley’s Vietnamese street food restaurant ​‘Pho’. He has more than 15 years’ hospitality industry experience but said he enrolled at College to gain the theory and knowledge to match his practical abilities. He explains: 

The beautifully thought-out five-course menu took diners on a culinary journey along the Italian coast – from Venice and Liguria, to Tuscany, Amalfi and Sicily. Dishes included: a trio of cicchetti, followed by corzetti, bazil pesto and crispy anchovies, and for dessert, an Italian twist on the traditional pancake, with a blood orange crespelle. 

Team-mate Stephanie, 26, completed both Levels 1 and 2 of the Professional Chefs Diploma at College, before progressing to an NVQ Level 3 Front of House Leadership course, and then to the Level 4 FdA. 

Alongside her studies, she works as a Team Leader at the Nottingham Knight pub & grill and has ambitions of running a restaurant of her own in the future. On the night, Stephanie took responsibility of front-of-house service, ensuring the evening ran smoothly and that guests were looked after. She said: 

Fletchers is the College’s commercial training restaurant, providing real life work experience to students who staff the restaurant as part of their training. For more information on our range of hospitality and catering courses — Take a look by clicking the button below!