February 10, 2016 · Team HG
On February 10, 2016, the Culinary Vocational School Foundation organized a fully catered networking lunch in Groningen. The six-course lunch was prepared and served by a group of fifteen chefs in training. In between courses, quite a few business cards were exchanged among the guests.
An estimated 60 people attended the lunch, consisting of politicians, hospitality entrepreneurs, suppliers, as well as individuals from educational institutions and non-profit organizations. The goal of the afternoon is to connect different worlds; not only among the invited guests from various institutions and companies, but also between the students of the program and the professional field.
The afternoon was introduced by the duo Martin Postma and Paul Rodenberg, two faces of the foundation's organization. With words of praise, they gave the current apprentice chefs the opportunity to introduce themselves, each with their own story. The kitchen team consists of, among others, (retired) students, a healthcare professional retraining, and a young mother, but also a few individuals with simply a passion for cooking and promising ambitions. “The team is incredibly close-knit, right from day one,” said Douwe Breithaupt, apprentice chef.
Paul van de Vegte, Chairman of the Culinary Vocational School Foundation and owner of Javanese Eatery, sees a lot of future in the initiative. Van de Vegte himself employs a former student of the Vocational School who now runs the kitchen. “What makes this training so great is the extent to which it is practice-oriented,” says the hospitality owner, “you can generally let these people loose in the business quite quickly.”
Maarten Burger (owner) Buckshot café and Grand Café Groningen) is keen to attend such networking initiatives of the Culinary Vocational School. In this way, a literal glimpse into the kitchen is provided, and students get the chance to present themselves. However, there remains ample room to share knowledge and experiences with other interesting parties.
More information? Or would you like to attend a networking lunch? Keep an eye on the website. www.culinairevakschool.nl keeping an eye on things.
