Graduates who found love on degree win award | News

July 2023

Chef graduates who found love on degree make Britain's 100 best local restaurants

By Melanie Hall

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Tropea Italian restaurant in Harborne, Birmingham, has not only been recommended by the Michelin Guide 2023, but named among Britain's 100 Best Local Restaurants in the Good Food Guide - and it all started with a love story at University College Birmingham.

Ben Robinson Young and Kaisia Piatkowska met on our Culinary Arts Management degree, when they also both lived at The Maltings, the University’s hall of residence. Thirteen years on, their restaurant venture has not only made the top 100 in the UK charts, but was voted best local restaurant in the Central and East of England regional category.

Just eight regional winners from across the whole of the UK were chosen from the top 100 - down from 37,000 nominations for great neighbourhood eateries across England, Scotland and Wales.

"Our degree absolutely shaped our future and gave us the skills and confidence to follow our dream of opening a restaurant. What we learned over four years cooking, doing basic accounts and costings and business planning has been invaluable."

Ben Robinson Young and Kaisia Piatkowska Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons)

The dream team not only run the restaurant. Kaisia is head chef, while Ben works front of house. They said: "We’re really proud that the restaurant has become part of the community so quickly.

“What matters to us most is that every single customer that leaves Tropea has had a great experience and wants to come back.

“Our degree absolutely shaped our future and gave us the skills and confidence to follow our dream of opening a restaurant. What we learned over four years cooking, doing basic accounts and costings and business planning has been invaluable. We're now the proud owners of a successful business - many thanks to all of our lecturers for the start they gave us!”

Inspired by a picturesque town on the Calabrian coast, Tropea (pronounced Tro-Pey-Ah), the menu is heavily influenced by food sold on the streets of Italy. Each plate is designed around a star ingredient and includes snacks, fresh pasta, seafood and regional specialities reflecting fresh produce, from day-boat fish to venison.

The Good Food Guide highlighted Tropea as: “A true neighbourhood restaurant in a well-heeled Birmingham suburb, with a genuinely welcoming vibe and excellent Italian cooking from a talented, locally-trained chef.”

University College Birmingham is a leading provider of specialist training for the food and hospitality industries, with students learning in our award-winning training restaurant and industry-standard kitchen facilities, as well as having a wealth of opportunities to put their skills to the test in prestigious national and international competitions.

Discover our full range of courses within our Birmingham College of Food.