Italian catering college.

Sherman Trott and Curtis Azhar, who work for the Little Venice Group, will spend three months at the culinary equivalent of boot camp to boost their skill with a skillet.

Little Venice Group training director Dale Butler said: "It's a very prestigious place and it's very important for young Bermudians to get this kind of opportunity.'' Mr. Trott, a former Little Venice scholarship winner who works at L'Orientale -- the former Club on Bermudiana Road -- and Mr. Azhar, who plies his trade at La Trattoria in Washington Lane, fly out to Turin and the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Turin later this week.

Mr. Butler said he would be going with the pair for two weeks to observe the programme, specially set up for a class of North American students after Mr.

Butler met Institute chiefs at a trade show in New York.

He added: "There has been a lot of interest from hotels and restaurants. If the company does well and I recommend the course, we hope to send other young Bermudians of promise there as well.'' Mr. Butler said the promise of overseas travel and education made a career in the hospitality interest more attractive to youngsters choosing a career.

He added: "It certainly did create a lot of interest when I made a presentation at CedarBridge Academy.'' And he said the Little Venice's drive to train Bermudian talent was supported by the Department of Labour and Training, which chipped in to help pay the course fees.

Mr. Butler said: "It continues a tradition for us. The company used to send students to Capri, but we haven't had any Bermudians to send for a while. One of my tasks was to get them.'' RESTAURANT EAT AWARD AWD