Chinese cuisine supremo Victor Yu was the latest industry superstar chef to excite students at Hugh Baird College’s L20 Hotel School on Thursday, 19th January, when he played guest chef for the evening.
Victor and his brother Vinny co-own the award-winning Yu and You restaurant in the Ribble Valley and Yu Alderley in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. The restaurants specialise in creating modern Chinese cuisine with a traditional but contemporary twist.
The Yu family’s style of cooking has seen their restaurant concept achieve numerous accolades, including the prestigious 3 star Legacy of Taste Pagoda award, Cheshire Life Restaurant of the Year 2016, Best UK Chinese restaurant, as chosen by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, and MSN UK Food’s Best UK Chinese restaurant.
Victor worked with over 20 students to prepare and serve a four-course dinner for 80 guests at the College’s L20 Restaurant, with courses including hot and sour soup with prawn, chicken, glass noodle and muk yui, confit duck leg pancakes, baby beef topside in sweet soy, honey and lime with stick jasmine rice and poached pear in Japanese sake served with lychee custard.
L20 Hotel School Curriculum Coordinator for Hospitality and Catering, Steve Otty, said:
“For our aspiring chefs and front of house students, the skills and knowledge they gain from an opportunity like this is invaluable. Victor worked closely with the students and he was a great inspiration for them. We’re extremely grateful to Victor and his team for spending time with the students and creating a spectacular menu for our guests too.”
Victor Yu said:
“I think it’s great to offer students the opportunity to cook a different cuisine. There is sometimes a lack of interest in Chinese cuisine by the industry and education providers so it was great to come here and inspire the students.”
“The L20 Hotel School is providing amazing opportunities for aspiring chefs and I was only too happy to come here and work with the students. They showed great technique and a keen interest, I was really impressed with their wok skills too!”