Callum Irwin wins Ken Hom – Lee Kum Kee Scholarship 2020
7th September 2020
Callum Irwin, who has recently graduated from Ulster University with a first class honours degree in Culinary Arts Management, is the recipient of the inaugural Ken Hom – Lee Kum Kee Scholarship.
Hosted by the Oxford Cultural Collective, the scholarship is designed to promote understanding of Asian culinary and hospitality cultures, and to reinforce Ken Hom’s commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding. In Ken’s words: “I continue to see myself, first and foremost, as a teacher. Establishing this scholarship enables me to support the next generation of food, drink and hospitality professionals. I want to encourage them to adopt a truly international perspective, to be open to new ways of viewing the world and, of course, to engage with Asian nations.” The generous support of Lee Kum Kee reflects their commitment to promoting positive perceptions of Chinese culinary culture to the world, an ambition they share with Ken.
Callum Irwin
In addition to achieving success in his academic studies, Callum Irwin is having a positive impact in industry. During his placement year he joined the acclaimed Muddlers Club restaurant in central Belfast, where he has remained employed throughout his studies and post-graduation. He was part of the kitchen team who secured Muddlers’ first Michelin star in 2019. He also acts as an Ambassador for Springboard N.I., a charity focused on attracting school-leavers into the hospitality sector. More recently, Callum has been assisting Ulster University with its Antonio Carluccio Outreach programme, a project focused on widening access to higher education for those who may not have considered this as an option.
Applicants for the scholarship were required to produce a comprehensive consultancy report, focused on current challenges faced by Chinese and South-East Asian restaurants. Maria Chong, MD of Lee Kum Kee for Europe, commented on Callum’s submission: “I was really impressed by his deep thinking and analysis, which showed that he truly understands the challenges of the Asian hospitality industry. His recommendations were practical and inspiring. At his interview, I found Callum to be a very passionate and visionary person. We need more people like him to secure a positive future for our industry.”
The scholarship will take Callum to Hong Kong, for an educational and cultural trip that will immerse him in the local culinary and hospitality culture – an ideal opportunity for someone who loves to travel. “I am delighted to have won the Ken Hom – Lee Kum Kee Scholarship and I can’t wait to go to Hong Kong. It will help me develop an international network, introduce me to a new cuisine and culture and help me develop my skills further. The consultancy topic I tackled was very interesting. It opened my eyes to the struggles faced by South-East Asian restaurants in the UK.”
For Ken Hom, Callum is a very worthy winner: “I am so impressed by his enthusiasm, his determination to build a successful career in hospitality and, most importantly, his love for learning. He sees every experience as an opportunity to absorb information, to grow as a person and to enhance his understanding of the world. That is a great example to others and it’s why we chose him to receive this award. Look out for Callum in the future – he is going to do great things in our industry.”
Applications for the Ken Hom – Lee Kum Kee Scholarship 2021 will open in December 2020.
The Scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Lee Kum Kee
With 130 years of experience, Lee Kum Kee is the name synonymous with authentic Chinese sauces and is the brand of choice among Chinese chefs and Michelin-starred Chinese restaurants around the world. Four generations of the Lee family have been involved in running Lee Kum Kee, which is now a household name, supplying over 220 sauces and condiments of the highest quality to over 100 countries. Household favourites’ include Oyster Sauce, Black Bean Garlic Sauce, Char Siu Sauce, Soy Sauce, Chiu Chow Chili Oil and Pure Sesame Oil. These products provide a foundation for families around the world to cook authentic, delicious Chinese dishes.
As a leading voice in promoting awareness of Chinese cuisine and its rich heritage, Lee Kum Kee is committed to education to ensure that healthy Chinese cooking, diet and flavour inspirations become a stronger part of the global dining scene.