22nd Christmas in Europe

As far as entertainment was concerned, a very full programme had been drawn up thanks to the School’s network and to its teams. But above all the delegations went to much trouble to present, as part of the exhibition, an overview of the culinary specialities of their country; however they also had on display a profusion of tourist brochures which in the case of some stands had little to do with the subject of Christmas.

Cao Yang School, Shanghai - ChinaRiga Hotel School – LatviaBjelovar Hotel School – Croatia Semmering Hotel School – Austria Prešov Hotel School – Slovakia Senigallia Hotel School – ItalyPodebrady Hotel School – Czech RepublicPonta Delgada Hotel School – Azores/PortugalLund Hotel School – Sweden Coimbra Hotel School – PortugalDiekirch Hotel School – LuxembourgReggio Emilia Hotel School – Italy Barcelona Hotel School – SpainOrebrö Hotel School – SwedenMaribor Hotel School – Slovenia Marseilles Hotel School - FranceCopenhagen Hotel School – Denmark

ENTERTAINMENT - DEMONSTRATIONS

how do you make chocolate?Jacques Dalprat and the stand of Spicol , the School’s supplier, displays its spicesLikewise the ‘Pacific’ drinks supplierPierre Michelland, the wine grower dear to Bernard Vergier The La Ciotat SchoolMarco Esposto and his Casadelladivisa stand – supplier of work wearThe potter and Marseilles soapThe St Elisabeth School, Marseilles Claudette Ocelli and her explanations of provençal traditions; she is a member of the ‘Reguinairedouluberoun’ associationAgnès Arditti’s sugar icing Marc Montarello – Italian specialitiesHélène Markezana, a culinary stylist, author of a cookery book entitled ‘The Taste of the Marseillais’ and a former continuing education student of the SchoolCulinary arts teacher Cyrille Mavridis and students from the Cadenelle Higher Institute in MarseillesAnne Peissik Lemery explains fair trade to young people 

WORKSHOPS

From vine to glass

Two workshops aimed at teachers were timetabled on the programme. The first was on the subject of wine, with Yvon Gary, a wine-studies teacher freshly returned from Australia where he had accompanied one of his students who had won a competition. It was a very popular workshop during which the teacher enthusiastically explained to around 20 participants all the subtleties of wine, from the vine to the glass. And as you would expect there was a tasting at the end of the workshop.

part of the highly attentive audiencethe teacher in full flow

Provençal specialities by the dozen!

The second workshop was run by culinary arts teacher Bernard Vergier, who introduced us ‘students’ to a whole series of Provençal specialities, aided by a slide show – ‘much better than a lecture’, as he rightly said. But his lecture was complemented by an explanatory booklet of each recipe and, of course, a tasting of the final product. (http://www.bernardvergier.fr)

The ‘students’ attentively follow the chef’s explanationsBernard Vergier, teacher at heart

LECTURE

WHAT’S EUROPE THEN?

In the lecture theatre filled almost to capacity, Alain Pierre Merger, President of the ‘Maison de l’Europe en Provence’ (Provence European Centre) flanked by Cyril Robin-Champigneul, head of the European Commission’s regional representative body, and by Edita Bednarek, a Polish placement student, gave a convincing exposé of the great adventure that is Europe.

His audience consisted mostly of pupils and students, for many of whom this immersion in the workings and ideals of Europe was a great revelation. While speaking of the rights and duties of every European citizen, Alain-Pierre Merger mentioned in particular the ‘exceptional event’ that he was attending. ‘Europe must be joyful, Europe can be built only if its citizens get together,’ he emphasised, issuing this encouragement to his audience: ’It is up to you to build Europe, to make it a reality, that is your European citizenship.’

After this lecture Alain Pierre Merger, flanked by his vice-president René Lippi and by Cyril Robin-Champigneul, awarded the medal of the ‘Maison de l’Europe de Provence’ to Jean-Louis Ivaldi, Head of the School’s Catering Department, and to Christiane Keller, founder and promoter of Christmas in Europe.

Alain-Pierre Merger with Cyril Robin-Champigneul at his sideA lecture theatre almost full to capacityAward of the medal of the ‘Maison de l’Europe de Provence’ The attractive medal with the colours of Europe