Alumni Stories: Caitlin Walsh

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsLoves / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Stories: Caitlin Walsh

Caitlin Walsh knew early on that she wanted to be a chef. She chose not to go to university after A Levels in order to enrol at Leiths, where she was awarded Student of the Year in 2018. Now a chef de partie in pastry at Harrods, Caitlin was this year crowned Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ Young Pastry Chef of the Year. Read more

Alumni Stories: Louisa Matthews

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsLoves / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Stories: Louisa Matthews

When Louisa Matthews was planning her gap year she took the opportunity to enrol at Leiths and gain valuable hospitality experience. As she prepares to take up her deferred university place, she tells us what her culinary education and experience has done for her. Read more

Alumni Stories: Tom Calver from Westcombe Dairy

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsLoves, #LeithsDiplomaLife / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Stories: Tom Calver from Westcombe Dairy

​Tom Calver of Westcombe Dairy in Somerset did his professional diploma at Leiths before returning to his family’s farm and devoting himself to cheesemaking. His award-winning cheeses can now be found in fine food stores and Michelin star restaurants. Tom is a leading spokesperson for British artisan cheese and regenerative agriculture practices. Read more

Alumni Stories: Sam Newman from Hackney Gelato

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsLoves / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Stories: Sam Newman from Hackney Gelato

​Italian-born Sam Newman completed his Diploma in Food and Wine at Leiths in 2013 before setting up Hackney Gelato with Enrico Pavoncelli in 2015. Hackney Gelato’s award-winning gelati and sorbetti now sell everywhere from independent delis to Ocado, Harrods, and Michelin star restaurants. Read more

Students Stories: Jenny Langley-Hoole on Leiths Online Mentorship

/ Categories Student stories, Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, Leiths Online Courses / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Students Stories: Jenny Langley-Hoole on Leiths Online Mentorship

​Every Leiths Online course is led and mentored by a qualified Leiths teacher. Online alumna Jenny Langley-Hoole, who is preparing to open a catering company in France, has completed both the Chef Skills and Plant-Based Cooking course on Leiths Online. Here she shares her experience of studying online with our mentors. Read more

Alumni Stories: Aji Akokomi and Akoko

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsLoves / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Stories: Aji Akokomi and Akoko

Former IT project professional Aji Akokomi opened his innovative West African restaurant Akoko in Fitzrovia in central London in October 2020. In its first year, Akoko made it into the National Restaurant Awards Top 100. Here, the first-time restaurateur explains how Akoko came into being and why he chose to study at Leiths before taking the plunge. Read more

Alumni Interview: Tom Tsappis at Killiecrankie house

/ Categories Alumni, #MadeAtLeiths, #LeithsDiplomaLife / Author: Hilary Armstrong

Alumni Interview: Tom Tsappis at Killiecrankie house

We last caught up with Leiths Diploma Graduate Tom Tsappis when he and his sommelier girlfriend (now wife) Matilda Ruffle were running their successful supper club Elia in south London. Since then Londoner Tom and Matilda, who grew up in Scotland, have upped sticks to the Cairngorms National Park where they opened their five-bedroom property Killiecrankie House in November 2021. The Irn Bru pâte de fruits and Stornaway black pudding madeleines are two reasons to start planning a trip. Tom tells us more. Read more

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