Student chefs get taste for success (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Luke Birchall and Alister Wiggan take part in international cookery competition

7:03pm Tuesday 6th April 2010 in News By Ben Barnett

A pair of Bradford students have got off to award-winning starts after quitting their jobs to realise their dreams of becoming chefs.

Luke Birchall, 25, of Wibsey, and Alister Wiggan, 33, of Eccleshill, are taking a part-time NVQ Professional Cookery Level 2 course at Bradford College and have now flourished in an international cooking competition.

They were at Hotelympia, a leading hospitality show in London, to compete against chefs from around the world in Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres.

Working as a team, they were awarded certificates of merit in the Glen-nan’s Chef Challenge, a heat which involved using crisps to prepare, cook and present two different canapés and portions of a starter or main course in 35 minutes.

A former pupil at Thornton Grammar School, Mr Birchall worked in the hotel industry and spent a stint in construction before enrolling at the college. He has now been offered a full-time catering position at the Wyke Lion pub in Bradford on completing his course.

He said: “Coming to college has been a life-changing experience. I wish I’d done it ten years ago.”

Mr Wiggan, who attended Bradford Grammar School and had gone on to work in finance, has cast aside any lingering doubts of making it as a chef.

He lost his sense of smell as a result of an accident at the age of 18 and he had believed it would hinder any chance of him making it as a chef.

Mr Wiggan said: “Before I came here, for 15 years I believed I couldn’t do this job because of my lack of smell. I spoke to a tutor and within 30 seconds, my life had completely changed. I get out of bed every morning now and I’m happy to be working in a career that I’m passionate about. I’m 33 and it’s never too late to start – it feels like my life is just beginning.”

e-mail: ben.barnett@telegraphandargus.co.uk