Back to school?
Dolan Hotels has launched an on-going educational partnership directly linking its hotels and restaurants with four Jersey secondary schools; Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais, Grainville and Haute Vallee. The scheme, which started this month, has been developed by Dolan Hotels to share their professional knowledge and skills with students and support the curriculum work with hands-on experience. As a result of the partnership students will have opportunities to learn about the hospitality industry, catering and business management. The first meeting saw students from Les Quennevais School invited to the Golden Sands Hotel for a tour of the facilities. It also gave the pupils in years 10 and 11 a chance to meet the team and learn first-hand what it takes to work in the industry.Andrew Shrimpton, director of Dolan Hotels, said: ‘We’re delighted that the schools are so enthusiastic about the scheme. We wanted to develop an initiative which allowed the schools to tailor the support they get from their Dolan partner property in order to cater for the individual needs of their students and curriculum. I’m glad to say I believe we have achieved this.’ Each school has been partnered with one of Dolan’s four establishments which include Hotel Cristina, The Somerville Hotel, The Golden Sands and the Merchant House Brasserie at Jersey Museum. By pairing the schools and hotels/restaurant up, it is expected that Dolan’s teams will become familiar faces at their partner school, allowing them to learn and respond to individual school requirements more effectively.
Don’t have dramas this Christmas…
Jersey Opera House has got just the ticket to avoid any gift gaffes this year. Instead of going through the same old present palavers, why not treat your friends and family to a dramatic night out with supper and a show? You can buy Theatre Tokens and gift vouchers for the theatre’s OH! Cafébar from Box Office and they can be used for any shows (subject to availability of course!). Make it a mouth-watering, showstopper of a Christmas and let your loved one see a show of their choice and enjoy a bite to eat beforehand. There’s plenty to choose from with the new season – more comedians, kids shows, operas, theatre and music plus Moscow City Ballet’s productions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker accompanied by a full live orchestra – a real festive treat!
The knives are out!
14 novice chefs will battle it out in Shaun Rankin’s Kitchen Inferno at the Highlands Academy Restaurant on 7 November 2013, raising money for Jersey Cheshire Home. The two teams, red and blue, sponsored appropirately by Airtel Vodafone and Blue Islands respectively, have created their own menus. 50 will guests choose which one they want, it’s then up to each team to deliver… under the direction of Michelin Star Chef Shaun Rankin. Guests will watch the action from the Kitchen Inferno live on the night and enjoy video of the highs, lows, tears and tantrums of the day and score the food they are served. Shaun will also decide which team performed the best in his Kitchen Inferno. BBC Radio Jersey DJ and Restaurateur Murray Norton will host the evening and Highlands Academy catering students will serve diners in the restaurant.
The Airtel-Vodafone Team led by Captain Tim Bond will have the culinary prowess of Derek Warwick, Brian McCarthy, Peter Shirreffs, James Filleul, Sophia Bird and Ben Davies. Highlands Academy Student Chef Nathan Vibert will support them in the kitchen. The Blue Islands Team, led by Captain Rob Veron will have skills of Peter Mac, Kevin Pamplin, Hannah Jacques, Harry McRandle, David Lord, Sally Minty-Gravett and Highlands Academy Student Chef Rebecca De Sousa supporting them in the kitchen.
On 8 November, 30 of the Island’s Business Leaders are taking part in a 5-day Trek in Kerala in India to raise money for the Jersey Cheshire Home. The Home, for severely disabled adults, costs £5000 per day to run so it relies heavily on local fundraising, as it is only part funded by the States of Jersey. Last time the trek in Iceland raised £80,000. Money raised from Shaun Rankin’s Kitchen Inferno will go towards Brian McCarthy’s, Le Masurier Managing Director, sponsorship, his efforts have already helped to raise over £15,000 so far this year for Jersey Cheshire Home.
