A local catering student is hoping to cook up a storm after scooping a work placement with one of the UK’s top celebrity chefs. Chloe Dawes, a pupil at Idsall School, Shifnal, will join Rick Stein, OBE, at his internationally acclaimed restaurant St Petroc’s based in Padstow, Cornwall.
The 15-year-old, who will be training with the star of shows such as Food Heroes and Rick Stein’s Taste of the Sea for one week, secured the coveted place by writing to the celebrity chef and TV star. The youngster, from Sheriffhales, will join the food expert from November 3.
Chloe is studying GCSE catering at Idsall and 20 per cent of her final marks are gained for her work experience.
A spokesman for Idsall School said Chloe was “overwhelmed” to have secured the placement.
“Chloe is a Year 11 pupil at Idsall School in Shifnal. As part of her GCSE Catering Course she has to undertake a period of work experience in a catering establishment. Chloe took the initiative to write to Rick Stein in Padstow, asking to be placed in his restaurant and was delighted to be accepted.”
Rick Stein has become a household name through his television shows and books, including Fruits of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Fresh Food, Seafood Lovers’ Guide, French Odyssey and, most recently, Mediterranean Escapes. There will be a new BBC series from Rick in January 2009.
Although a professional chef, Rick bases most of his recipes on simple cooking so that they appeal to the way “most of us cook.”
In January 2003, Rick was awarded an OBE for services to Cornish tourism. He is based in Padstow but spends several weeks each year in Sydney, Australia.