Published on: Tuesday, 01 October 2013

Euro-toques Commissioner-General Wade Murphy visited Cork today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding which establishes an immediate strategic collaboration with CIT's Department of Tourism & Hospitality. Euro-toques - the European community of culinary professionals – will now work in collaboration with the Department to advance culinary education in Ireland by assisting in areas such as curriculum development, participating in industry relevant workshops and to capitalise on research opportunities.

Adrian Gregan, Head of the Department of Tourism & Hospitality commented “I am delighted to welcome the Commissioner-General here today and thank him for giving up his valuable time to meet with the students and speak to them about the fantastic opportunities that lie ahead for them as graduates”.

Wade Murphy, along with local Euro-toque representative and CIT graduate Kate Lawlor, of No. 5 Fenns Quay Restaurant, also took the time to provide the first of a series of culinary demonstrations on the day for the students in the Department's Culinary Demonstration Theatre. Today’s theme for 1st year culinary students concentrated on taste, flavour and organoleptics. Euro-toques is a pan-European Community of Culinary Professionals representing over 3,500 members, with national branches in many European countries including Ireland.

The Department of Tourism and Hospitality encompasses the areas of Culinary Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Bar Management. It has over 700 students and a team of dedicated student-centred industry experienced Lecturers across these disciplines and is located in a modern purpose-built building on CIT’s Bishopstown Campus.

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (left to right):
Conor O’Brien (La Rousse Foods); Dr Margaret Linehan (Head of the School of Humanities CIT); Wade Murphy (Commissioner-General Euro-toques); Adrian Gregan (Head of the Department of Tourism & Hospitality CIT); and Kate Lawlor (Proprietor No 5 Fenns Quay & Euro-toques Cork Representative)

Photographer: Shane Cronin