Trainee chef cooks up a storm in BBC show

A new BBC show, Wee Chef, features a group of 16 – 19 year old students taking part in a professional cookery apprenticeship at Belfast’s Metropolitan College.
Luke CollinsLuke Collins
Luke Collins

Included in the show is 17 year old Luke Collins from Hillsborough, who is training to be a chef.

Under the watchful eye of their tutors and a number of industry professionals, the trainees get to learn the basics at college while also experiencing the heat of a real life kitchen. From mastering knife skills, to fine tuning their palettes and learning to work as a team, the series follows the trainee chefs from the start of the college term in September 2019. They’re put through their paces cooking for paying customers and competing to impress world renowned chefs with their cuisine.

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“If you’re thinking about becoming a professional chef but you’re not 100 per cent into it then there’s no point - it’s an all or nothing career,” said Luke. “I’d recommend reading lots of cookbooks and research stuff online. About 50 per cent of the things I know are through books or the internet. I decided to pursue a career in professional cookery because I really liked cooking at home and had a bit of experience working one day a week in a kitchen.

“My ultimate goal would be to open a deli or café selling products that I’ve made myself, as well as other local Northern Irish produce. I’ve kept focused by trying to learn as much as I can about that kind of food.”

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