Howzat for hospitality - The Leigh Academy students serve three course gourmet meal for cricket legends and guests
Cucina's school catering team complete a clockwork operation at the Lashings All-Stars charity cricket match at Bexley Cricket Club
50 students from The Leigh Academy served a gourmet three course luncheon to more than 375 guests at the Lashings All-Stars v Leigh Academy celebrity cricket match hosted at Bexley Cricket Club on Friday 3 July, 2015.
The first innings from Cucina was a Duo of Smoked Fish or a Tomato and Mozzarella Tian with Provencale Vegetables followed by Poached Chicken Breast with Parmentier Potatoes or a Shallot and Goats Cheese Tarte Tatin. The mouthwatering trio of desserts featured Strawberry Panna Cotta, Chocolate Orange Ganache and Apple, Cinnamon & Custard Crumble served in separate shot glasses as well as Frosted Bourbon Salted Caramel Brownie, with Fairtrade tea and coffee.
An entertaining match followed with West Indians, Corey Colleymore,Tino Best, English Test stars Min Patel, Phil DeFreitas and John Emburey joining the legendary Jeff 'Thommo' Thomson and Marcus North, while students from Leigh Academy batted superbly in the second innings to win the match.
As the guests enjoyed a wonderful cricket match and a glorious summer afternoon, Cucina and the Leigh Academy students served a luxury afternoon tea of finger sandwiches and home made cakes.
Lashings All-Stars Event Manager, James Honey- Green says "Once again the food from Cucina was fantastic. The Year 10 students from Leigh Academy were brilliant at getting the food out to the guests. What an excellent initiative to get them involved. It would be great to see them at other events."
Commenting on the success of the event, Cucina's regional manager Tony Ridgewell added:
"We're very proud of the way our chef team and student team worked together. It was a big operation and they made it go like clockwork. It goes to show what can be achieved when school caterers go beyond the kitchen and become part of the life of the school."
Cucina MD Steve Quinn, who was also one of the guests at the event said:
"Catering for this event was a big operation and it was fantastic to see how well the students worked with our Cucina team. Educational partnerships are at the heart of all we do at Cucina and this was very much in evidence today."
All in all a successful day with a great cricket match, Cucina's signature contemporary catering, lots of money raised in the charity auction for the Breds Foundation.
(Photo 1: Leigh Academy students serve main course to Lashings XI guests)
(Photo 2: Leigh Academy students bring out the dessert)
Editors' notes
* School catering firm Cucina Restaurants was the first school caterer to employ high calibre chefs in school kitchens
* 2015 was the fourth year that Cucina has teamed with Leigh Academy students to provide the catering at this event
* Lashings 'All Stars' cricket XI is a sporting charity featuring well-known international cricketers in in charity fundraising events
* The Leigh Academy is four-college secondary academy serving the whole of Dartford
For additional information, please contact
Doug Jenner
doug@bestwords.co.uk
07973 751 039
www.cucina.co.uk/media
@cucina_kitchen
