University's Head Chefs cook up a treat

Friday, 30 July 2010

Staff in the state-of-the-art Central Kitchen. From l-r: Julie Frost (Executive Head Chef), Delphine Lodge (Chef Manager), Matthew White (Head of Catering) and Charlie Edwards (Head Chef)

The University's new Central Kitchen Management Team proved that they are more than ready to take on the challenge of producing 90% of all the food consumed on campus in the new Central Kitchen that has recently been finished at Pepper Lane.

After a guided tour of the brand new facilities, selected members of staff and students were treated to a sumptuous variety of dishes cooked by Executive Head Chef - Julie Frost, Chef Manager - Delphine Lodge (former Central Catering head chef) and Head Chef - Charlie Edwards (former head chef at Windsor).

Using the state-of-the-art ovens and equipment in the new central kitchen Delphine and Charlie more than convinced their guests that the kitchen is going to be in excellent hands and will be supplying top quality food around campus by the beginning of the new academic year.

Guests were given a guided tour of the facilities by Julie Frost and Matthew White, Head of Catering, after which all were treated to roast beef that had been superbly cooked in a remarkable oven. This state-of-the-art piece of equipment is capable of being programmed to cook to the required temperature and consistency, hold the food at the correct temperature without further cooking until it is required, cook many different types of food independently but at the same time, and clean itself afterwards!

Chef Manager, Delphine Lodge said; "I am really looking forward to being at the forefront of such an innovative shift in the way that the University produces its food, this kitchen is going to be a very exciting place to work and will provide excellent food at a consistently high quality all over campus."

Tours of the central kitchen will be available for small groups (6-8 people) from October. Please contact Julie Frost on j.l.frost@reading.ac.uk.

The kitchen will be up and running in time to provide food to the new ‘Eat at Park' - the catering hub situated behind car park 2 between the new Stenton and Mackinder Halls, which are due to open in August.

‘Eat at Park' will provide food serveries, a bar and dining area for staff and students, in time to compensate for the planned closure of Park house and Cedars for refurbishment and improved catering facilities.

For up to date information about all of the other exciting catering developments that are taking place around campus, please see the ‘Major changes on the menu for catering' hot topic - http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/staffportal/news/articles/spsn-catering.aspx.