Chef Wise

The Vincent Rooms at Westminster Kingsway College, which opened in 1910, is a hidden gem with two dining experiences offering contemporary cuisine freshly prepared by Westminster Kingsway College's students. The Escoffier Room, with its five-course tasting menu that changes weekly, provides intimate surroundings for those seeking a relaxed and leisurely banquet in the beautiful surroundings of Vincent Square in London's SW1. Priced £27.50 or £55.00 with matching wines, the Escoffier tasting menu is as meticulously planned as it is perfectly baked, broiled or braised – by the second and third year chef students aged 16 and up, under the supervision of experienced chef lecturers. Every week this next generation of chefs designs a novel menu that champions a county or country, fresh and seasonal produce, or a social celebration. As examples, the English counties of Yorkshire, East Anglia and Hampshire will each be honoured with dedicated menus that observe local cuisi...

We all know a foodie. The person you go to for restaurant recommendations, who isn't perplexed by that alien vegetable the MasterChef contestants are cooking with, and who actually looks forward to the sweet release of cooking a nourishing meal after a long, tiring day at work. But how do you surprise someone who's always the first to know about the latest epicurean trends? Your answer lies in the hallowed kitchens of Leiths School of Food and Wine in West London. Having produced food industry legends such as Diana Henry, Lorraine Pascale, Matt Tebbutt and Gizzi Erskine, even the most particular gourmet is sure to be impressed by a visit to the revered school. Offering the largest range of classes and courses of any cookery school in the UK, there's a present for every palate. The school's programme draws influence from cuisines all over the world and students have the chance to learn from the acclaimed Leiths teachers as well as celebrity chefs such...