STEWART MULLINER spent most of his young life receiving his meals through a serving hatch. From the age of 11 he lived in children's homes, in social services care, and had never ventured in to a kitchen -- let alone prepared food in one.

He said: "My food came to me through a hatch. I had to put my hand in and get my plate and my fork. I never saw the kitchen."

Now he has the opportunity of a lifetime, training to be a chef with Mike Harrison and has seized the opportunity with huge amounts of enthusiasm.

Stewart, aged 16, is thrilled to own a set of chef's knives, a sparkling set of whites and a chef's hat. It is important to Stewart that they belong to him. He said: "I just can't believe that they are mine. They have my name on them and I am very proud of that. They are really special."

It is a huge chance for Stewart to prove himself and he is delighted to have been given the opportunity. "I was really pleased to have been chosen," he said.

Stewart was taken in to care after problems at home and, from the age of 11 until he was 15, he lived in 11 different care homes in this area and as far away as Shropshire and Wales.

He left care without many of the basic social skills children learn as they grow up. He now lives with his mum in Kearsley.

He gets a great deal of support from his mentor, Barrie Galston, who is part the mentoring scheme at Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club which helps youngsters with a wide range of problems.

Barrie, who has welcomed Stewart into his own family, said: "When Stewart first came to our house he wouldn't eat with the rest of the family."

Stewart added: "I was too embarrassed to eat in front of other people. I had only ever eaten food in the children's homes. It was a totally different situation. I was frightened I would drip spaghetti down my face, or something like that."

Basic socials skills most children learn from their parents are not taught to children in care, says Barrie.

In a family, it is not unusual to see children hanging around the kitchen helping mum or dad, or watching, as dinner is prepared.

It was something Stewart had never experienced. The niceties of a family meal were unknown to Stewart, until he met Barrie.

Since meeting Barrie when he was almost 15, Stewart's confidence has grown and, if enthusiasm is anything to go by, then he will go far. He has a dogged determination to improve his life.

He hopes eventually to forge a career for himself in the Army, but for now is determined to immerse himself in the challenge of becoming a chef.

Stewart admits to eating "everything and anything" -- a throw back, he believes, to his time in care. There was no room for a fussy eater in the care homes.

He said: "If you didn't like something that was made for you in care it was hard luck. It means I eat everything now."

Stewart enjoyed the special meal the group enjoyed at the top class hotel, although he had never eaten anything like it before. He said with a smile: "You should have seen the bill."

ADAM MEE is a 15-year-old pupil at Thornleigh School. He is determined to make a good impression on the course and is looking forward to getting down to some cooking.

Adam, who lives with his parents and one of his two sisters in Bolton, confesses to enjoying pies and pizzas.

He said: "When we went for the posh meal we had duck and pheasant. I had never tried them before."

So far, said Adam, Mike Harrison has come over as a "relaxed chef" but he admitted that, at this stage on the course, there has not been any real pressure. That could well change as the date for the gala dinner gets closer.

Adam will leave school this summer, has no plans to go on to further education and is determined to pursue a career as a chef.

"This is a great chance for me and I want to do well," he said. "Not many people get a chance like this."

Adam said his favourite chef was Jamie Oliver and confesses to being able to cook "stir fries and curries".

He is looking forward to learning how to cook a few more complicated dishes.

JAMES GASKELL, aged 15, is taking cookery at GCSE level. He enjoys working in a kitchen and is looking forward to the challenge ahead of him. At home he enjoys making "simple stuff" and that includes pizzas.

He said it was interesting to see how a "posh" meal was presented during their hotel dinner. He said: "The waiters kept filling up our glasses when we finished our water."

James, who lives at home with his parents and has three brothers and a sister, had never eaten in a top restaurant before he joined the course. James, a pupil at Mount St Joseph School, said he was "very determined" to do well.

He was surprised to hear how many chefs worked at The Midland Hotel -- there are 28 -- and thought the kitchens were "quite calm", although very busy. "It was interesting to see the kitchens and it was really hot. It was good to get into the colder part where the salads are made," he said.

James plans to leave school in the summer and hopes to become a chef.

KELLY ECKERSLEY, aged 15, is a pupil at Rivington and Blackrod High School and hopes to be a chef when she leaves full-time education.

She helps her mum at home in Horwich by cooking "casseroles and spaghetti bolognese" and loves her cookery lessons at school.

She said: "I hope to get a chef's apprenticeship when I leave school. I really want to be a chef." Kelly is enjoying the course so far. "The best bit is working in the kitchen baking cakes," she said.

She was not so keen on a test the students had to take while they were on the course, but is determined to take full advantage of the scheme.

"I am really enjoying the course and it has made me even more determined to be a chef," said Kelly.