TWO Swindon College students cooked up a storm last night as they prepared an exquisite three-course meal before popping off to work in Rick Stein’s new Marlborough restaurant.

Kym McElroy and Hannah White, the stars of the college’s catering course, have bagged themselves jobs in the kitchen of seafood specialist Rick Stein’s brand new eatery, which will open in Lloran House in Marlborough High Street in October.

And last night the pair sweated over a hot stove to cook for fellow catering students in the college’s restaurant.

Kym, 19, from Highworth, said: “I’m really looking forward to tonight, I think the food is going to be great.”

On the menu was mussels with black bean, crab linguini and grilled mackerel to start; cod and chips, Indonesian curry and fillet of hake a la plancha for mains; and vanilla crème brulee for dessert.

Speaking of the prospect of working with a world-renowned chef, Kym said: “I’m really excited because I know it will be a great place to work. Everything is freshly cooked and I will be able to develop my skills.

“Personally, I like experimenting with different dishes.

“I like to take a certain dish and cook it in a completely different way.”

Kym started at Swindon College three years ago and she has loved every minute of it.

“I’d like to give a big shout out to my tutor Paul Kelly, who has been absolutely brilliant and has taught me so much,” she said.

Hannah, 18, of Stratton, couldn’t wait to start her new job. She said: “I was really happy and excited when I found out I’d be working in Rick Stein’s kitchen.

“It’s nerve-racking because it will be my first restaurant. But I’m feeling more confident now because of the amount of training we have had.

“I thought the college’s catering course was great, I have learnt so much since I’ve been here.

“My favourite type of food is Italian but I have really enjoyed learning to cook with fish.

“All my family are really proud and they will definitely be coming to the opening night – my mum’s more excited about it than I am.”

Charlie Dalgleish, restaurant supervisor, said: “We have really strong links with the college and we are really happy to have the girls working with us.

“They fit into our kitchen very well and we are extremely impressed with what they can do.”