Ben's Story

Ben Robinson Young

Culinary Arts Management (BA)

One of Britain's best

Ben is one of the stars of the Birmingham culinary scene, and his work is now being recognised nationwide.

Along with his partner, Kaisia Piatkowska – who he met on the University’s Culinary Arts Management degree 13 years ago – he launched Tropea Italian restaurant in Harborne, Birmingham, which has been named among the Good Food Guide’s Britain’s Best Local Restaurants.

In fact, the restaurant venture not only made the top 100 in the UK charts, but was voted best local restaurant in the Central and East of England regional category, where just eight regional winners from across the whole of the UK were chosen from 37,000 nominations for great neighbourhood eateries.

Now, the restaurant has been celebrated with the coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand.

Ben, who works front of house while Kaisia is head chef, said: “Our degree absolutely shaped our future and gave us the skills and confidence to follow our dream of opening a restaurant. 

"What we learned over four years cooking, doing basic accounts and costings and business planning has been invaluable."

“We're now the proud owners of a successful business, which is down to our fantastic lecturers and the start they gave us.” 

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