Celebrity chef Albert Roux OBE is bringing his unique brand of fine dining to a Highland school’s canteen.
The multi award-winning chef will instruct the pupils of Charleston Academy in Inverness on preparing and cooking a gala dinner for 100 paying parents on Thursday night.
All proceeds will be donated to Play Therapists at Raigmore Hospital Children's Ward in Inverness.
Mr Roux, who opened his first Scottish restaurant, Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve, is a trustee of the Academy of Culinary Arts and is working to instil his enthusiasm for cooking in the next generation.
Pupils in fourth year, mostly aged 15-16, will prepare the meal for their parents under the direction of Roux, who along who opened Britain’s first Michelin star restaurant in 1967.
Rocpool Reserve will be donating ingredients used in their restaurant to create traditional French style cuisine for the gala dinner. Mr Roux has also donated the wine for the evening.
All proceeds from the Gala dinner will be donated to Play Therapists at the Children's Ward in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The parents are paying customers, each paying £20 per meal.
Mr Roux said: "I am delighted to be able to pass on to the pupils of Charleston Academy my life's passion for cooking. We are using the finest Scottish ingredients from my restaurant, Rocpool Reserve in Inverness.
"I am honoured to be a part of this experience where we celebrate the art of cooking with our young chefs while enhancing the lives of children in hospital."
Calum MacSween, head teacher at Charleston Academy, said: "It is a tremendous opportunity for our Hospitality students to work alongside Chef Roux and his team. They will learn a great deal about the planning, preparation and delivery of a major event while raising money for the Play Therapists at Raigmore Hospital. We are indebted to Albert Roux for his continuing commitment to the education and development of our young students.'
This is Chef Roux's fifth visit to Charleston Academy since the beginning of 2009. From Home Economics to French, Art and the Music department, the whole school has got on board with Chef Roux and his auld alliance with Charleston Academy.
General Manager of Rocpool reserve and Chez Roux, Kerry Watson will also be teaching the students the fine art of Silver Service for the gala dinner. Students will see firsthand the intricate details involved in managing the award-winning Rocpool Reserve.
All proceeds will be donated to Play Therapists at Raigmore Hospital Children's Ward in Inverness. Play Therapists work with children to prepare them for surgical procedures using a variety of techniques from role play to arts and crafts. Volunteers give up their time to play with all the children on the ward, allowing parents to have some respite.
