School students help launch the Show

The youngsters from The King’s School in Ottery St Mary worked with the team from Michael Caines’ Abode Exeter in the spirit of the Year of Food and Farming, a national year-long campaign to reconnect children with farming.

 

The lunch was held in the school’s dining hall and pupils were sous chefs, waiters and wine waiters after training under Executive Chef Ross Melling at the Cathedral Close hotel. Ingredients for the locally sourced and seasonal meal were sought from families and friends of the school. 

 

Devon County Show Secretary Ollie Allen said: “The Year of Food and Farming is an exciting and high profile campaign to help our young people find out more about where their food comes from through first-hand experiences and to reconnect them with the area they live in and the wonderful countryside that provides such quality food.”

 

“At the Show we are looking forward to welcoming pupils who will have the opportunity to follow the story of farm to kitchen and to discover how great home-grown and locally produced food tastes.”

 

“This year our media lunch enthusiastically supported this campaign and we are enabling the King’s pupils to observe the whole process, literally from local field to plate,” she added. 

 

The year 10 students are all in the first year of the school’s new two-year GCSE catering course. Food Technology teacher Sara Osment said: “The students have had a wonderful time going into Abode and finding out how it feels to be working in a top restaurant. They tell me it’s extremely demanding and exhausting!

 

“Assisting in the Show’s media lunch has reinforced all that they’ve learnt and it has given them invaluable experience and confidence – if they can look after the Bishop of Exeter and other VIP guests including top regional journalists, they can look after anyone!”

 

The menu of local, fresh and seasonal dishes was drawn up by Devon County Show’s version of Jamie Oliver, Ross Melling, who said: “At Abode Exeter we are delighted to support such a hands-on food and farming project. The King’s School lies at the very heart of the East Devon ‘terroir’, and it’s vital that the children of that area come to appreciate the quality and the importance of their own local produce. There can surely be no better way than this to show them.”

 

Westcountry food and drink is an essential ingredient in the annual Devon County Show. This year there are more local producers than ever before and a food crèche for visitors will be provided by RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution).

 

Ends

 

For further information contact:

Devon County Show:

Godfrey Kent, Marketing Director tel: 01395 445571

Anne Ashford, Press Officer tel: 01823 490965/07971 275840

Ollie Allen, Show Secretary tel: 01392 353702

 

The King’s School:

Faith Jarrett, Head Teacher tel: 01404 812982

Sara Osment, Head of Home Economics tel: 01404 812982

 

Michael Caines’ Restaurant at Abode Exeter:

Sonia Lowe, Michael Caines PR tel: 01392 319 955

Ross Melling, Executive Chef tel: 01392 319 955

 

Notes to editors:

 

Media Lunch Menu:

 

Canapés and champagne

 

Seared Brixham scallops with cockle and clam chowder, West Country

potatoes and shaved celery

 

Devon Ruby red Culm valley sirloin and shin of beef

confit heirloom beetroot, new season carrots and truffle sauce

 

Sweet Charlotte cheese, candied walnuts, pickled apples and oat

biscuits

 

West Country strawberry and rhubarb with Pebblebed sparkling rose

sabayon

 

Coffee and home-made petits fours.

 

The suppliers are:

Michael Caines’ Restaurant at Abode Exeter who “work with skill and imagination to produce brilliant food that is served with professional style and efficiency by a friendly front-of-house team”. 

 

Pipers Farm near Cullompton supplied sirloin of pure Red Ruby beef, native to Exmoor, born on the moor, reared on the water meadows of the Somerset Levels to natural maturity, hung for four weeks. 

 

The Devon County Show: