Health club

Healthy eating goes under the spotlight at next week's Hotelympia 2000 (7-11 February), with the introduction of a new class at Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres.

"Healthy Catering for the Workplace", sponsored by the HCIMA, the Health Education Authority and Westminster College, takes place on Wednesday 9 February at 3.45pm in the Live Theatre. It requires its 10 shortlisted competitors to prepare, cook and present two portions of an "imaginative" healthy main course (which is both highly profitable and meets the needs of a health-conscious customer) in just 30 minutes. Ingredients such as vegetables, salads and starchy foods should form an integral part of the created dish, and competitors will be marked on their use of healthier catering practice.

Healthy catering is also on the menu in the Food Demonstration Theatre, where the Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) will show off the latest in healthy eating. Sharing ideas on contemporary cuisine during lunchtime and afternoon demonstrations will be MCGB's former chairman John McGeever, and Willie Pike, executive chef, Gardner Merchant Scotland. Demonstrations will be sponsored by Welsh Beef and Lamb, Scotch Quality Beef and Lamb, Shetland Salmon, Silver Spoon and Lo-Salt.

Also at Hotelympia, chefs from canteens and counters across Britain will be bringing the sandwich into the 21st century in the London heats of the Flora Innovative Sandwich Competition, organised by the British Sandwich Association. This will be taking place on Tuesday 9 February at 4.15pm in the Food Demonstration Theatre.

Students visiting Hotelympia should head for the West Brompton Conference Suite at Earls Court to take advantage of the three-day Opportunities 2000 recruitment event organised by Springboard UK in association with Caterer &Hotelkeeper.

Among the 20 organisations exhibiting at the event - which will be held from Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 February - are Beefeater, the Savoy Group, Baxter & Platts, Scottish & Newcastle and PizzaExpress. They will be looking to meet potential recruits for jobs, management training programmes and placements.

The event is open only to those in possession of a student ticket, priced £10 and available from the Hotelympia organisers on 020 7886 3056.

For further information, visit the Hotelympia Web site at www.hotelympia.com or call the ticket hotline on 024 7642 6520.