Teaching, Judging and Assessing
I regularly work for the WEA and ELWA giving lessons in basic cookery skills.
Those attending my groups range from school age to pensionable age. I was moved
by a woman in her seventies who told me that her husband had done all the cooking
and when he died she realised just how little she knew. Many of those who attend
my lessons live on their own and they tell me just how difficult it is to shop
for quantities suitable for one. As a qualified Caterbase (NVQ) assessor I can
be called on to perform functions such as judging competitions. In 2004 I was
asked to judge a heat of the School Chef of the Year competition and this year
was again called in to judge the televised (BBC) final for Wales. My lasting
memory will be the wonderful two-course meals produced for just 80p per head!
That really is all these women are given to provide food for school kids.
Food Festivals
Each year brings a round of wonderful food festivals and I have
been asked to contribute to many of them. The season starts on the first weekend
in April with the Gourmet Fest in Llanwrtyd Wells Mid-Wales and you can get
a feel for this by viewing the slide show below. I also appear regularly at
the Forest Food Festival in West Gloucestershire and a recent addition has been
the Cardigan Bay Fish Festival held in the beautiful port of Aberaeron. It is
important I feel to suppress the natural urge chefs have to show off and instead
prepare and cook dishes that are simple and fast to produce in an era where
people are perceived to want to spend less time in the kitchen. I also give
demonstrations at special events and farmer’s markets.
Consultant
I have attended the Growing Schools conference as a delegate to obtain information
about the latest work in the field of bringing food producers and schools closer
together and how to promote this through schools. At the GS conference I also
produced an 8000 word report, a list of contacts and a summary of various relevant
web sites for my client.
I have attended The F3 conference. This was organised by the Foundation for Local Food Initiatives who are also responsible for funding some of the activities I am involved with. The F3 conference looked at the various ways of promoting and encouraging the use of locally produced foods. It was international and had a workshop led by the Italian based Slow Food Movement amongst others.
In a freelance capacity I have been asked to speak at various events and also to take workshops on the subject I have spoken on. As part of a scheme to promote the re-generation of local food production I gave talks at events in Gloucestershire where I addressed local growers and farmers offering advice and ideas for selling into catering establishments such as pubs, restaurants and hotels.
The Soil Association asked me to speak at one of their events in Oxfordshire giving a presentation on how to sell to the catering market. Following this I led a workshop enabling growers to ask questions and voice concerns. The Soil Association also asked me to give a talk and workshop at Aberystwyth, on selling organic meat to caterers and at their AGM.
I was approached by the proprietors of a daytime restaurant who asked me to look at expanding their business to evening trade. This involved preparing a report on what was needed to be able to attract evening trade and make it a success.
The owners of restaurants, teashops and cafes often ask me to advise on how they can improve or expand their business. If this service appeals to you email me in strictest confidence csc@christopherchallener.co.uk
I have been invited to join several committees including the one set up in 2004 for the Welsh arm of British Food Fortnight. In 2005 a new one has been set up to bring an exciting new national event that will look at food from plants and farms accenting locally and organically produced food. Watch this space.
FSA
Various campaigns exist to raise awareness of what is needed to
maintain a healthy diet. High salt, sugar and fat content is of particular concern
to bodies such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA). At a recent FSA roadshow
I demonstrated quick, uncomplicated recipes that reflected these goals. I have
done similar work for local councils and health boards.