Cucina senior managers go back to the floor - as dinner ladies

2nd September 2010, 10:45am

The senior management team at catering company Cucina Restaurants lived up to their “fresh thinking” approach recently - after abandoning their usual duties to become dinner ladies for the day.

The company dispatched its senior management team to a Cambridgeshire school as part of its initiative to reward the best Cucina Catering Team of the Year and give senior managers the chance to go back to the floor and get a renewed insight into "life at the serving hatch".

The Cucina catering team at Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton near Peterborough won the Best Cucina Team of the Year accolade – after impressing judges with their high standards, skills and 'can do' attitude.

And each member was rewarded for their efforts with vouchers and a spa day where they received a series of "luxurious treatments".

A stretched limousine complete with champagne was on hand to whisk the winning team away for the unconventional day off work – leaving Cucina's senior management team  left behind to cater for the 1,500 pupils at the College.

Steve Quinn, managing director of Cucina, said: "This initiative is important to both our high standards and as a reward for achieving them. It is also a great chance for us to refresh our thinking!

"As a result we have been able to receive first hand reactions to our new menus for next term, and also to make small changes to improve the fantastic work that goes on at all of the Cucina catered restaurants around the country.

Most of the senior management team began their working life in a kitchen similar to the one at Arthur Mellows. Sweeping floors and cleaning requires the same level of care as preparing fantastic food in the kitchens. I know this, as I did both again today!

Thanks to everyone, colleagues, college staff and pupils for making the day such a success and congratulations to the team at Arthur Mellows."

Cucina's approach also includes appointing a head chef to oversee service and offering an educational food service that links the classroom to the kitchen.

Related Articles:

• 02 Sep 2010 - Cucina help ease kids back to school with series of promos
• 01 Jul 2010 - Catering expert Cucina continues its support for World Cup
• 14 May 2010 - Caterer Cucina wins three year deal with The Bushey Academy
• 29 Mar 2010 - Catering expert Cucina delivers Birthday parties for school pupils
• 22 Mar 2010 - Catering experts Cucina opens evening bistro at school restaurant
• 08 Mar 2010 - Cucina school chefs win triple gold at Salon Culinaire
• 22 Feb 2010 - Catering expert Cucina gets creative
• 23 Nov 2009 - School caterer Cucina raises £2,000 for charity
• 12 Oct 2009 - Cucina wins three more contracts
• 16 Sep 2009 - Cucina commits to sustainable catering
• 09 Sep 2009 - Italian courses held at La Cucina cookery school
• 08 Jun 2009 - Two new school meal contracts for Cucina
• 14 Apr 2009 - Cucina celebrates new spring menus

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