--- title: "Chef’s Masterclass" url: "https://alsophigh.org.uk/news/2026-09-25-chef-s-masterclass" school: "Alsop High School" --- # Chef’s Masterclass ![Image of Chef’s Masterclass ](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/news/ef5765cb-d1cf-43d6-a628-67c8d27c1e43(1).jpg) 25 September 2026 Our Hospitality & Catering students were recently given an exciting opportunity to take part in an **inspiring professional chef’s masterclass with Chef James Holden from Academy of Culinary Arts**. The session provided students with a fantastic insight into the standards, techniques and precision expected within a professional kitchen. Working alongside an experienced chef, students were challenged to develop their culinary skills while producing two impressive restaurant-quality dishes. The first dish was a beautifully presented **Chicken Ballotine**, accompanied by **fondant potato, celeriac purée, tenderstem broccoli and a carefully prepared mustard sauce**. Students developed a range of advanced skills, including preparing and shaping the chicken, achieving precise cooking, creating smooth purées and mastering the technique required to produce a perfectly cooked fondant potato. The second course was a stunning **Citrus Lemon Tart with Italian meringue**. Students explored the balance of flavours and textures, creating a delicate citrus tart before finishing it with a light, glossy Italian meringue. This challenged students to demonstrate accuracy, patience and attention to detail — particularly when working with pastry and meringue. The masterclass was a fantastic opportunity for students to **experience professional culinary techniques first-hand**, build confidence and understand how the skills they develop in the classroom can translate directly into a career within the hospitality industry. A huge thank you to **Chef James Holden and Academy of Culinary Arts** for inspiring our students and sharing their expertise. Our students rose to the challenge brilliantly, demonstrating **creativity, resilience, teamwork and an impressive commitment to achieving professional standards**. We are incredibly proud of the quality of work produced and look forward to providing our students with many more opportunities to work with industry professionals and develop their culinary skills. ### Chefs Masterclass [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/0b7ab1f9-a762-406e-94eb-bcf1088de3c0.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/0b7ab1f9-a762-406e-94eb-bcf1088de3c0.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/6b0aeedc-63bf-420b-9898-5f2814900224.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/6b0aeedc-63bf-420b-9898-5f2814900224.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/168ad5bb-ee92-4f1c-83f1-6b98573e1da0.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/168ad5bb-ee92-4f1c-83f1-6b98573e1da0.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/639ca9e1-c040-4493-b502-8f572cb6eec5.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/639ca9e1-c040-4493-b502-8f572cb6eec5.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/7771ecb4-5c7c-4bde-a62b-477ad79fb40e.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/7771ecb4-5c7c-4bde-a62b-477ad79fb40e.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/baf2d793-3b1e-4bb4-98bc-1bace1870ec0.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/baf2d793-3b1e-4bb4-98bc-1bace1870ec0.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/ef5765cb-d1cf-43d6-a628-67c8d27c1e43.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/ef5765cb-d1cf-43d6-a628-67c8d27c1e43.jpg) [![](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/imagecache/720x720s/gallery/chefs-masterclass/f8db30d6-de48-493a-9dc3-0a54272c481f.jpg)](https://files.schudio.com/alsop-high-school-2/images/gallery/chefs-masterclass/f8db30d6-de48-493a-9dc3-0a54272c481f.jpg) [ Beyond the Baseline](https://alsophigh.org.uk/news/2026-09-24-beyond-the-baseline) [Year 8 Girls Crowned Tag Rugby World Cup Champions! 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