Welsh Chefsโ Partnership with College Group Celebrates Decade of Success
Wales, 15 of December 2021 – A successful partnership between the Culinary Association of Wales and Grลตp Llandrillo Menai spanning a decade has been celebrated with the signing of a new agreement.
The agreement will see the Junior Culinary Team Wales, which flies the Welsh flag in competitions around the globe, continue to be based at the Grลตpโs campus in Rhos-on-Sea where team manager Michael Evans is a lecturer.
Under the agreement, Grลตp Llandrillo Menai provides a base, sponsorship and a coach for the junior team, which comprises talented chefs aged 23 years and under.
The partnership began in 2011 when the Junior Culinary Team Wales was re-formed for the Culinary Olympics in Germany the following year.
The team has gone on to represent Wales in style, including achieving silver and bronze medals at the Culinary Olympics last year. Next up for the young chefs is the Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg in November 2022.
The CAWโs link with Grลตp Llandrillo Menai dates to 2006, when it hosted the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) for the first time. The three-day event, which attracts top chefs from across the UK and around the world, is now a firmly established fixture at the college and is due to be held from February 22-24. next year.
CAW president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, said: โWe are delighted to renew our valued partnership with Grลตp Llandrillo Menai for another year and look forward to staging the Welsh International Culinary Championships 2022 there, after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
โChefs selected for the Junior Culinary Team Wales squad have an exciting year ahead as they prepare to compete at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg, one of the top two international competitions for chefs from around the globe.
โThe junior team holds the key to the future and hopefully many of the young chefs will progress to the senior team to compete at the highest level on the world stage.โ
David Owen, Assistant Principal of Grลตp Llandrillo Menai, said: โWe are delighted to continue our support for the Junior Welsh National Culinary Team, which has been promoting and nurturing the nationโs young talent for nearly 20 years.
โMembers of the team, many of whom have been Grลตp Llandrillo Menai hospitality and catering students, have competed in a number of competitions across the globe, including the Culinary Olympics and Culinary World Cup. They have even served St Davids’ Day canapes at Number 10 Downing Street!
โThe evolution of a talented junior team, managed by Michael Evans, is a positive step towards the future of culinary skills in Wales, not only showcasing their talents but also the best of Welsh produce.โ
Any young chef interested in joining the Junior Culinary Team Wales is asked to contact office@culinaryassociation.wales
Feature photo: Culinary Association of Wales president Arwyn Watkins, OBE (left) with Grลตp Llandrillo Menaiโs assistant principal David Owen and Junior Culinary Team Wales manager Michael Evans.
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For more information, please contact Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Culinary Association of Wales president, on Tel: 01938 555893 or Duncan Foulkes, publicity officer, on Tel: 01686 650818.
