focus on your community
Cookery student
works with top
Michelin Star Chef
Professional Cookery student Christopher Cunningham recently
got the opportunity to work with top chef Michel Roux Jnr at a
Glasgow restaurant.
Christopher works for one of Scotland’s most respected chefs - former Ayrshire College
student Brian Maule, who trained under Michel Roux Jnr before opening his own
restaurant Le Chardon d’Or in Glasgow.
Christopher was inspired to become a chef after Brian Maule’s visit to the College’s Ayr
campus, where he shared his expertise with hospitality students.
Christopher said “I’ve been working with Brian for seven months now. He gave me
a trial after I emailed him about his visit to the College. I took my chef ’s whites with
me the same day, just in case! From this, I was offered a job. It’s fine dining, which is a
fantastic experience.”
About meeting a world-renowned chef, Christopher said “Michel Roux Jnr visits the
restaurant maybe twice a year and I was lucky enough to be working on one of these
days. We served Michel and his wife lunch in the afternoon. For evening service,
Michel cooked with the junior chefs which was a fantastic learning experience. His
attention to detail and professionalism was inspirational.”
“ I was offered a job
Hospitality lecturer Paul Holdsworth said “Since Chris has been at college, he has
shown a real passion for food. The experience he gained while working with Brain
Maule has been key to making Chris a successful student. He uses this experience while
cooking in the College restaurant coming up with ideas he has been taught, teaching
both myself and his peers.”
after meeting one
of Scotlands most
respected chefs at
Ayrshire College! ”
Once Christopher finishes college, he’ll be working full time at Brian Maule’s
restaurant. He hopes eventually to follow in the footsteps of great chefs and travel to
work in great restaurants abroad.
Feeling inspired? Apply for our Professional Cookery and
Hospitality courses. We still have spaces left starting in August.
Local Stories
WILSON RAPHEL IS AN ACTIVITY TOURISM LECTURER AT AYRSHIRE COLLEGE.
WE ASKED HIM TO SHARE HIS PASSION FOR TRAVELLING AND HOW IT LED
HIM INTO AN UNEXPECTED CAREER.
Tourism lecturer
led into an
unexpected
career
Former students that I have worked with have gone on to do the following:
•
Outward Bound Outdoor Instructor
•
Country Park Ranger
“I was attracted to tourism as I had really enjoyed my travels. Do you remember
the feeling you get when you’re in the airport at six in the morning just as you’re
waiting to go on holiday? Tourism can do that to you and make you feel that
way. It opened up my eyes to other worlds and other ways of doing things.
•
Climbing/Mountaineer instructor
•
Kayak Instructor
•
Prince’s Trust Team Leader
On the Activity Tourism course, you can expect to learn about the various
different tourism operators or business within the industry from nature tourism,
conservation, adventure tourism, food tourism, events and more. You’ll get
out and visit the many different small to medium sized business working in the
industry, and you’ll go outdoors as well as being in the classroom. Expect to
learn that there are a vast number of varied jobs within the industry. Expect to
become creative and entrepreneurial.”
•
Self Employed Tour Guide
•
Manager of an Outdoor Adventure Centre
•
Travel & Tourism Lecturer
•
Safari Park Ranger
RAISING ASPIRATIONS INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES INSPIRING ACHIEVEMENT
For more information on our Tourism courses
go to www.ayrshire.ac.uk/courses
www.ayrshire.ac.uk