The Meadows, their student-run public-facing restaurant, is currently serving a Caribbean menu to celebrate Black History month. Dishes on the menu include salt fish fritters, traditional curry goat, escovitch of fish and sweet potato pudding. Levi Roots tried the students’ jerk chicken and Ital soup.

This learning opportunity gave North Hertfordshire College’s hospitality and catering students insight into catering for a VIP guest and helped them celebrate the rich heritage of Caribbean cuisine.

Levi Roots commented: “Visiting North Hertfordshire College has been fantastic. I was so impressed with the young chefs’ technical skills - the Caribbean menu was like something you’d find in Jamaica. I was excited to share my own journey as a chef entrepreneur, with a focus on the importance of being your authentic self.

“It’s so important for aspiring chefs to understand the challenges, the hustle, and the rewards that come from blending food and entrepreneurship. I can see the young chefs have started to find their passion and I am confident they will go on to become ‘dragon-slayers’ like myself.”

The entrepreneur explained how he went from selling bottles of sauce at Notting Hill Carnival, to running a multi-million-pound business. The students were able to gain insight into the corporate side of the culinary sector, helping them consider ways they can turn their passion into a career.

Teona, a level three food and beverage student at North Hertfordshire College, added: “To have a celebrity-chef like Levi Roots compliment my service skills has really boosted my confidence. I will be able to look back on this experience and use the advice he gave us throughout my future career. I was so excited to be able to celebrate my Caribbean heritage with such a memorable event.”