Serving up gourmet service

By Nathan Johnston
GOURMET meals, five star service, modern restaurant surrounds and discount prices are all on offer at Birches in Dandenong.
Birches is Chisholm Institute Dandenong’s restaurant where apprentice chefs and front of house students ply their trade.
Third year apprentices from some of the state’s finest hotels and restaurants complete their studies at Chisholm, and the meals they prepare are often available to the public.
The restaurant is open Tuesday to Thursday nights, and from Monday to Thursday for lunches.
Hospitality teacher Jan Watson said the restaurant would extend its opening hours as the festive period nears to allow for end of year business lunches and Christmas functions.
Three course meals for $16 are available for dinner. It’s even cheaper at lunch.
Ms Watson said the apprentices and students gain valuable experience from preparing meals for customers.
“It’s absolutely essential. We have a really good apprenticeship program, and Birches is a big part of what we do.”
This year the apprentices have been able to learn from some of Australia’s best chefs as part of the Great Chefs program.
Richard Wood from Morning Star Estate on the Mornington Peninsula returned to Chisholm last week for his second Great Chef appearance.
The guest chefs work in the Birches kitchen alongside third year apprentices to provide a fivecourse meal featuring local and seasonal produce and wine.
Mr Wood said the evenings, which have been hugely popular with the public, were important for the careers of the young chefs.
“These people are the future of the industry. If you put in the extra work with them before they get into bad habits, everyone benefits.
“The kids are great. They have shown real interest and it’s good for me as well. This is the second time I’ve done it and I get a lot out of it,” Mr Wood said.
Ms Watson said Birches would expand its program next year to include themed setmenu evenings.
“We plan to have a Spanish evening where there will be conversational Spanish language classes, Sangria (a sweet red wine from Spain), four courses of Spanish food and salsa dancing.”
She said Italian and French theme nights were also planned.
To find out more about Birches, phone 9212 5411. It is at 121 Stud Road, Dandenong.