Shoppers at the new Aldi store in Cameron Toll Shopping Centre sampled tasty treats made by Edinburgh College students during the store’s first week of opening.
To celebrate the opening, Professional Cookery students prepared and served tasters of recipes to customers, using ingredients available from the new store.
Visitors to the store enjoyed sampling pulled pork buns, steak tagliata, dhal-style lentil red soup, gin and beetroot-cured salmon and chocolate brownies. Students also handed out recipe cards for shoppers to use at home.
Four students from the college’s level one and two Professional Cookery – City and Guilds courses were invited to cook at the store as part of an ongoing partnership between Aldi and the college. Students have shared their work with shoppers at previous store openings in Cowdenbeath, North Berwick, Tranent, Portobello, Chesser and Musselburgh.
The partnership gives students a chance to gain practical catering experience and receive immediate feedback from customers.
Students were joined by lecturers George Baker and Chris Cockburn and learning assistant Paranthaman Arumaichelvam.
College Principal Annette Bruton also dropped in to the store to taste the students’ wares and pick up some tips.
She said: “It is fantastic that our students are getting an opportunity to share their talents and delicious recipes with members of the public. I was so impressed with the pulled pork that I bought the ingredients and went home and made it myself. It was delicious!”
Lecturer George said: “Attending events like this gives our students valuable experience of preparing and serving food to the public. It provides them with an opportunity to use and develop the skills they learn on the course and, while working in the college’s two training restaurants – The Apprentice and eh15 – in a different environment. We’re looking forward to attending more store openings in the future.”
