GROW treated to culinary class from Celebrity Chef

Monday 07 October 2024

Grow crew members got to see Ching-He Huang in action during a special 'cook-off' arranged for the charity which supports adults with learning disabilities and difficulties.

It was in collaboration with China Red and Guernsey Community Savings, ahead of a Gala Dinner on Saturday Evening (5 October).

Grow LTD’s Training Cafe smelt exquisite during the presentation, which used fresh produce grown at the charity's main facility, by those staff members and crew that helped ‘grow’ them.

Rich Portsmouth is the training Cafe manager and Training and Development Manager, at Grow.

"Unfortunately, a lot of our crew will eat microwavable meals, and processed foods," he said.

“We've got an abundance of fresh produce here on site, so having somebody like Ching come in and demonstrate simple knife skills, simple recipes with simple ingredients to make absolutely delicious food that they could take home with them and try for themselves is just fantastic.”

Pictured: Grows facilities where Islanders can pick up vital life skills, and where produce was grown for use in the display.

Another who understands the value of the third sector is to the people of Guernsey is Peter Neville, the founder and the chairman of Guernsey Community Savings. He helped organise the event after a successful Gala Fundraiser in 2023 that was held again on Saturday in partnership with China Red. 

In his opening address to the audience at the demonstration he described a “Kinship" with Grow.

“You need a bank account. So in a sense, we're helping people to get life skills and abilities to operate normally. Grow is a wonderful charity, and it too, develops the abilities of its crew and provides life skills. So that is why I see the kinship now.”

In his role with GCS, he’s eager to expand that kinship and work closely with their fellow third sector organisation. 

“I would like to think that, yes, One of the things we are doing is increasing the amount of financial education we provide, and that could well be an area we could work with Grow, and we're working on that at the moment.”

Pictured: Peter Neville, he founded GCS five years ago, and is eager to co-operate with other third sector organisations. 

Eddie Sum is the owner of China Red. He helped bring Ching-He Huan to Guernsey last year, as he had known her from previous work. In 2023 it was exclusively for GCS and their Gala Dinner, but this year it doubled up on the charities getting the benefit. 

“ For me, I wanted to give something back to the community, which is important for us as a business. We've been here a long time, as you know," he said.

“We work closely with Grow, we get a lot of the produce for the restaurant. So yeah, I think it's great. I think it's nice to have Ching here as well, who's done an amazing display.”

“You know, instead of importing things, we're able to use all their vegetables, things that we need to get anyway. So why wouldn't you support and help.”

Pictured: Ching-He Huang’s display was what you would expect from a celebrated celebrity chef. Full of personality and Wok-related puns. “Time to Wok on!” got a particularly terrific reception. 

Using produce from Grow, Ching prepared three stunning dishes in less time than it takes me to write this article - a chicken and sweetcorn soup, a sizzling stir fry and a salad based with tomato, strawberry and cucumber. 

“I hope they took something away today," she said. "Using very humble, simple ingredients grown here, fresh from Grow and turning into something delicious that they can be inspired to do at home with just a few Chinese store cupboard ingredients.

“It's such an honor to use the ingredients, you know, because it's like, literally, from farm to table. It's like a couple of meters, but obviously, grown with a lot of love, care and attention, you know, from all the growers, the volunteers.”

It’s the second time Ching-He Huang has visited Guernsey and the island, it’s way of life and that connection to the third sector has left its mark. 

Pictured: After the demonstration Ching signed copies of her cook books and gave copies away to volunteers and staff.

“I fell in love with Guernsey when I came here last year to work with GCS, and it's such an honor and a privilege to be working with them again and to highlight the amazing work that they do. 

“You know, helping people who fall in the hard financial times, it's something, it's a cause close to my heart. 

“You know the fresh air, the sea, the fresh produce, the hospitality, the generosity of locals, and also the initiatives that they are working on. It's very humbling. So I'm the one that's honoured.” 

If you’d like to know more about Grow Ltd or Guernsey Community Savings, you can head over to their websites.