Matilda’s cupcakes to Gruesome Gunge: Roald Dahl books inspire students’ amazing creations

The Rustic Roald Dahl event was part of year two’s BTEC National Diploma and The Escoffier Restaurant was decorated with bales of straw, paper mache lollipops and hessian tablecloths.

All the tutors and students dressed up as Roald Dahl book characters including bar tutor Claire Stanton in a full Oompa Loompa costume.

Each guest was handed a glass of green Frobscottle on arrival, a cocktail based on The Big Friendly Giant, and welcomed by Oliver Reed, a performing arts student dressed as Willy Wonka, who handed out golden tickets for a prize draw.

The imaginative six-course menu started with a dish entitled, The Giraffe Pelly and Me, a sharing platter of quirky sounding canapés including an apricot puree with pickled walnuts on a parsnip crisp, smoked salmon with brie and tomato on French toast and mackerel and goats’ cheese with rocket and pesto on French toast.

There was just enough to whet the appetite before the next course, Matilda’s cupcakes, savoury beetroot cupcakes and a palate cleanser called Gruesome Grunge, a light and refreshing sorbet.

The main course, Boggis, Bunce and Bean’s Fowl Play, included a beautifully presented chicken breast with cider sauce, three types of carrots, pea puree and fondant potatoes.

But without doubt the highlight of the evening was Willy Wonka’s Creation by Debbie Sherman and Jessica Burbridge, which certainly had the wow factor.

Everything on the plate was edible including a golden ticket surrounded by marshmallow mushrooms, strawberries with candy floss clouds and a chocolate tower with a smattering of popping candy as a surprise twist.

This was followed by coffee and a selection of themed sweets and raffle, which raised £260 for Compassionate Dorset which supports sustainable farming.

All in all it was a magical evening.

If you haven’t tried one of the college’s themed evenings before you’re missing a treat.