11.09.06
Fifteen Cornwall trainees enjoy journey of cheese discovery

The Fifteen Cornwall trainees' journey of culinary discovery continued last week with a sourcing trip to Toppenrose Dairy, makers of St Keverne Square, Toppenrose Gold and Trenance Softee.

Since the restaurant's opening in May the students have been using a wide variety of Cornish cheeses from a number of dairies across Cornwall in their dishes, all of which are provided through The Cheese Shop in Truro. Their trip to Toppenrose Dairy near Helston was the first time that the trainee chefs have had the opportunity to see cheese actually being made.

David Lambrick, who runs Toppenrose Dairy and Trenance Farm with his wife Lynn and son Ben reflected on the success of the trip: "The students looked interested in what I showed them and came up with lots of really good questions about some of the processes involved in cheese making. We enjoyed hosting the visit and are proud to be a part of their professional development and hope we've helped to fuel their enthusiasm in cheese."

After visiting Trenance Farm, the home of Toppenrose Dairy, the students visited The Cheese Shop in Truro for an introduction to the fragrant and flavoursome world of cheese with connoisseur Stephen Gunn who guided the trainee chefs through the types of cheese, production methods, tasting notes and top pointers for selecting the very best cheeses.

Training and Development Chef Fiona Were describes how the trainee chefs are benefiting from taking part in sourcing trips to local suppliers: "In Cornwall we are extremely fortunate to have an abundance of suppliers producing high quality fresh ingredients on our doorstep. Fantastic food is dependent on having the right ingredients and for Fifteen Cornwall that means that we source up to 80 per cent of our ingredients locally from producers that are as passionate about food as we are.

"There's no better way to learn than by experiencing something for yourself, which is why sourcing trips are so useful. The group really enjoyed the farm and cheese shop visits and have come away with an understanding of how cheese is produced which will help them in their future careers as professional chefs."

This point was echoed by trainee chef Zelah James, 23, originally from Penzance but now living in Newquay, who said: "I really enjoy our sourcing trips because I am interested in finding out as much as I can about the food we serve. Seeing the cheese making process at the dairy was brilliant and it was also great tasting the different cheeses at The Cheese Shop as I now have a better understanding of the different flavours and the processes behind them."

A competition will be run off the back of the cheese sourcing trip where the students will devise a full recipe for a starter using Caer Ewe, a cheese produced by Terri Rasmussen in the village of North Tammerton between Holsworthy and Bude. There will be a cook off at the restaurant and the winning recipe will feature on the menu at Fifteen Cornwall.

For further information please contact Laura Tregonning of Deborah Clark and Associates Ltd on 01872 276276 or email laura@dclark.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Fifteen Cornwall through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and via the Jobcentre Plus co-financing with European Social Fund (ESF). The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has also invested in Toppenrose Dairy through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

Fifteen Cornwall opened on 18th May 2006 with an innovative menu of the best seasonal and local produce, a relaxed atmosphere, talented chefs and an incredible view over a beautiful two-mile beach.

The restaurant is dedicated to the same inspirational social enterprise goals as set out by Jamie Oliver and his team at Fifteen London. The restaurant is giving 18 trainee chefs the once in a lifetime opportunity to turn their lives around during its first intake of students.

All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to the Cornwall Foundation of Promise, whose purpose is the creation of fantastic career opportunities for disadvantaged local young people, helping them every step of the way to achieve their potential. The restaurant also provides a valuable boost to Cornwall's tourism industry and makes use of the abundance of high quality local food producers in the region.

The project has received more than £1 million in investment from Objective One and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), with additional support from Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Cornwall College, Cornwall County Council, Restormel Borough Council, St Austell Brewery, HSBC Bank, Barclays Bank and The Hotel and Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay.

For Fifteen Cornwall reservations and menu information visit www.fifteencornwall.co.uk or call 01637 861000 (lines open between 9.30am and 8.30pm seven days a week).

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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