HE'S one of Bournemouth & Poole College’s best known catering graduates. Chef Andy Chu will be helping to spice up Bournemouth’s Chinese New Year celebrations at the college's on site restaurant next week.

The highly rated Escoffier Restaurant at the Lansdowne site is staging its ever popular Chinese banquet with Andy on hand to guide the students through what looks set to be a colourful culinary tribute to all things Oriental.

Andy’s knowledge of Far Eastern food is second to none and he is a leading advocate of Chinese culture in the South of England.

As chairman of the Dragon of the South School, Andy helps to promote the cultural diversity of China. Lately he has been sharing his knowledge with students at the college, but he’s also built a reputation as an entertainer and demonstrator in the fine arts of Chinese cooking.

Andy tours the region putting on demonstrations and is currently a cooking consultant and retail manager at Wah Hing, the biggest Chinese food wholesaler in the south with more than 2,500 product lines.

Andy told Taste: “It will be a fantastic evening at the college. It always is. I look forward to this every year and I tell the students and anyone interested in food, that the secret of great Chinese cooking is to stick to the traditional recipes.”

Hospitality and Catering lecturer, Josephine Pearce, said: “Chinese New Year is one of the most exciting nights of the year for us. It’s a test for our BTEC National Diploma in Hospitality and Events years one and two, our specialised chefs and hospitality students, and it sells out months in advance.”

There is already a waiting list for next year's event.

Restaurant supervisor for the evening will be student Alice Kingham and the student head chef will be Frazer Isgar, student bar supervisor is Ramon Boo-Barreiro. Tutors Mark Alderman and Tracy Butler are assisting Andy in bringing even more magic to the evening's programme.