Michael takes up the challenge

A Culinary Arts Management student at the College has helped to re-launch the student bar with a more adventurous food menu for 2007, as the culmination of a busy summer in the industry.

Bar One has now successfully re-opened for business, and is currently hosting a fortnight of special events for new College of Food students, under the direction of General Manager Neil Griffiths and incoming Guild President Chris Edwards.

Michael had just over a week to get the venue ready, after spending the summer working as a chef at a hotel near Stratford-upon-Avon, and then providing corporate hospitality during a three-day trade show at the NEC.

After finishing in his role there in mid-September, he agreed to open the kitchen at the Guild of Students bar in time for the arrival of Freshers later that month.

He added: "That was certainly my greatest challenge yet. On the Wednesday I began work at the kitchen, almost single-handedly cleaning the entire premises, which had not been in full operation for almost a year.

"I had less than 72 hours to re-open the kitchen's accounts with suppliers, repair refrigeration, determine menus and selling prices and most importantly open before students began to arrive on Saturday."

The fortnight of events for Freshers continues in Bar One this week, after which it will be open for business every day until the end of term.