Students Cook Up Festive Dinner At Downpatrick SERC

Students Deliver Festive Lunch At Downpatrick SERC Campus

Students Deliver Festive Lunch At Downpatrick SERC Campus

Hospitality and Culinary students at South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Downpatrick Campus helped spread some festive cheer in Downpatrick this week.

They planned, prepared and served a traditional Christmas lunch to clients of the Fountain Foodbank in the town.

Funded through the College’s Be Your Own Boss initiative, the lunch was one of many projects led by SERC’s Hospitality and Culinary Arts School Food Poverty Project.

SERC Downpatrick culinary and hospitality students get set to serve up a delicious Christmas dinner to clients of the Fountain Foodbank.

Working with food banks, charities, business and local councils, the Be Your Own Boss project provides unique learning opportunities for students at SERC.

It helps them in designing, planning and implementing culinary projects to address food poverty in the community, whilst preparing the students for the fast-paced, ever-changing hospitality industry.

Culinary Arts Lecturer Thomas Turley, said: “Sixteen students from the Level 2 Professional Chef Traineeship NI and Level 2 Professional Chef Apprenticeship NI worked together to plan, prepare and serve the Christmas lunch for clients from Fountain Foodbank.

(l-r) Festive dinner at SERC: lecturer Thomas Turley; Deputy Head of School. Paul Mercer; with students Yehor Chukhil (18) Killinchy, Owen Cunningham (17) Newcastle, Jessica Green (17) Seaforde, Stephen Jennings (18) Castlewellan, Cathy Loughlin, Rathfriland, and Owen Baker (19) Newcastle. (Photos courtesy of SERC).

“This Project Based Learning activity was a win-win for everyone involved.

“The students consolidated their learning and gained experience, which is essential for progressing to further studies and employment.

Preparing the Christmas lunch for the clients of Fountain Foodbank are Deputy Head of School, Paul Mercer with Owen Baker from Newcastle and Stephen Jennings from Castlewellan.

Guests enjoyed traditional roast turkey and glazed ham with sage and onion stuffing,  roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, buttered sprouts, pigs in blankets, and roast gravy.

“And by working with Fountain Food Bank, we were able to help them support their clients with the Christmas lunch.”

Desserts included, Bailey’s chocolate cheesecake, warm Christmas pudding with brandy custard, winter berry Pavlova, and sticky toffee pudding.

Visit: www.serc.ac.uk