Cardiff and Vale College Hospitality student Joshua Campbell-Taylor and Chef Lecturer Tony Awino travelled to Qatar recently to showcase the best of Welsh food and drink produce ahead of the Football World Cup.
Organised by the Welsh Government Food and Drink division, a formal dinner and Food and Drink Wales Showcase with formal dinner was hosted by the UK Ambassador to Qatar at the British Embassy there.
The evening focused around Welsh lamb and other produce. Six businesses attended with their produce, including Calon Wen, Hybi Cig Cymru (HCC), Penderyn Distillery, Rachel’s Dairy, Stillers, Tŷ Nant and JW Marriott.
Working closely with Chef Buğra Keles and his staff, Chef Chris Roberts, AKA Flamebaster, produced a menu for the VIP dinner that showcased the best Welsh produce available in the region. Chef Chris was assisted by Joshua in a Junior Chef role, and Tony.
Chef Lecturer Tony Awino said: “I recently travelled to Qatar with Level 3 Professional cookery student Joshua Campbell-Taylor from Cardiff and Vale College. The College was asked by the Welsh government to provide catering support for a pre-World Cup Food and Drink Wales promotion.
“This consisted of a three-course formal dinner served to Welsh delegates, the Welsh diaspora, Qatari VIPs as well as the British Ambassador and his wife. The event was hosted at the British Embassy Ambassador’s residence, where we collaborated with renowned Chef Chris Roberts from Wales and the catering team from the five-star JW Marriott Doha, cooking for 60 VIPs presenting a menu showcasing Welsh produce.”
As well as cooking, student Joshua also helped Chef Chris Roberts on a short presentation about the food being prepared, the story of its ingredients and skills and working with Welsh food.
Tony said: “The VIPs at the event were highly complimentary of the presentation and the food. It was a privilege to be selected to be part of such a prestigious event and a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of Cardiff and Vale College on the international stage.”
Cardiff and Vale College Principal Sharon James said: “What a fantastic opportunity for Joshua and Tony! Thank you to the Welsh Government on providing them with this amazing experience – we look forward to working closely with the Welsh Government in future to promote skills and industry pathways with further showcases of Welsh produce and culinary talent.”