Michael Caines launches state-of-the-art skills kitchen

The new, state-of-the-art skills kitchen installed by In-toto Kitchens Exeter at Exeter College has been launched by double-Michelin starred chef, Michael Caines MBE, who founded the esteemed Michael Caines Academy based at the college.

Michael hosted a thrilling masterclass and cook-along event in the kitchen to mark its launch, inviting a number of local media and business people, including Gordon Bates, partner of In-toto Kitchens Exeter, to put the 16-station kitchen to good use.

Guests carefully observed as Michael prepared his pan-roasted chicken dish in the demonstration area, relayed on the four digital screens around the kitchen, before taking to their own work stations to re-create and present the mouth-watering dish for Michael to judge!

The pressure and nerves grew as the allotted time ticked away. “Michael made it look so easy and we all thoroughly enjoyed attempting to create the dish to his exceptional standards!” explained Gordon Bates, “Thankfully, we had invaluable support from the students of the Michael Caines Academy, whose wealth of skills helped us complete the task.” After tasting all the guests’ creations, Michael decided that the winning dish was prepared by James Dart of Darts Farm.

Following the cook-along, the skills kitchen was officially launched by Michael and Richard Atkins, Principal of Exeter College. "We are delighted to be officially launching our Skills Kitchen today" said Iain Hatt, Assistant Principal, "with this exciting cook-along of local and national business, media and hospitality experts, along with our catering students. This is another landmark in the important partnership between the College and one of its famous alumni and mentors - Michael Caines - who has not only helped us design these first class facilities with In-toto Kitchens - but also provides the inspiration and watchful eye for our Michael Caines Academy students, ensuring this elite programme generates the next generation of restaurateurs, chefs, front of house staff and managers for this important sector."

Gordon worked very closely with Michael and the staff and lecturers at the college to develop a kitchen of the highest standard that meets a range of specific requirements, not least the creation of an inspiring learning environment that students will relish working in. After a great deal of consideration and research the finished kitchen provides a perfect teaching arena with a tutor’s demonstration area and plenty of space, allowing each student to enjoy their own work zone and providing tutors with easy access to all areas of the kitchen, ensuring the inclusion of all students.

“We are delighted to have supplied and installed the new training kitchens for Exeter College and the Michael Caines Academy, commented Gordon Bates. “Working with the team to meet the exacting needs of young chefs in training has been an absolute pleasure and we are very proud to play a small role in the future of the region’s vibrant hospitality industry.”

Sixteen individual work stations have been created, each with 900mm of workspace and each equipped with a full-size Neff oven with grill and induction hob, a prep sink and with 8 fridges, each shared between two stations. Extraction via the ceiling enables the exclusion of cooker hoods that would have impaired the vision of students. The clean, white kitchen units, beautifully finished with stylish Silestone worktops, enhance the bright, cheerful wall colourings and combined, provide an exceptional ambience.

Working to a very tight time scale in order to ensure the kitchens were ready for the start of the new term, the In-toto Kitchens team installed all the furniture and worktops in just two weeks.

Commenting on development plans at the College, Iain Hatt said, "Whilst the college was already proud of its professional industry-standard kitchens that supports the training of over 300 hospitality and catering students and our commercial fine dining restaurant @34, our continued growth and specialism training created the need for a bespoke demonstration kitchen worthy of all the best TV cook shows. What better way to celebrate the talents of our students and the close working partnership of our industry and media colleagues than joining together in a unique Masterclass with Michael Caines!"

Iain added, “We're looking forward to welcoming a wide range of people in the future to our skills kitchen since we are planning a programme of short courses to whet everyone's appetite!"

A family business supplying kitchens of the highest quality, In-toto Exeter is celebrating 21 years in business this year and is looking forward to a very exciting and busy year. The company will be supplying demonstration kitchens for the Source Trade Show in February, The Big Cake Show coming to Westpoint in March and, of course, the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink in April, for which it has supplied the demonstration kitchen since it began 11 years ago.

Come and visit us at our showroom at The Venture Centre, Yeoford Way, Matford Park, Marsh Barton or give us a call on 01392 824888

or visit our website at http://www.intoto.co.uk/showrooms/view/exeter