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Bempton School pupils are chefs in the making
CELEBRITY chefs and cooking in top class kitchens are all the rage.
Now, a group of youngsters from a village primary school know why.
Under the expert eye of professional chefs at The Old Mill hotel and restaurant in Langtoft, eight budding cooks, from Bempton Primary School took part in a unique four hour experiment.
Armed with their own choice of main course and sweet, The Old Mill provided the fresh local ingredients and Kathie Oliver-Heaton, owner and chef, head chef Peter Chambers, and pastry chef Joyce Welbourne, helped them through the process of turning their ideas into first class meals.
Dishes included garlic stuffed chicken wrapped in ham, a veggie crumble, cottage pie, spicy chicken, and veggie burgers. Puddings were also created including raspberry and cream shortbread biscuits.
Also spending most of the day at the Old Mill for the Ready, Steady, Cook style experience, was headteacher Lynn O'Reilly and teacher Jane Holdsworth.
"It was fantastic for the children, apart from enjoying cooking one of the main benefits was what they learned about food technology. They also learned a lot of new skills, and enjoyed tasting each others meals and making some very informed comments," said Mrs O'Reilly.
Once back at school the young students were involved in writing about their experience, what they had learned, and producing a photographic display of themselves in action.
"It was the first time we have done anything like this and it was a huge success. The children are still talking about it, and The Old Mill were fantastic, right down to ensuring everying was in line with health and safety regulations, it is certainly something we would like to do again," she said.
Mrs Oliver-Heaton came up with idea of using their facilities and staff for a free, educational hands on experience which would be fun, but send out some impotant messages.
That included raising awareness about the availability of good local produce, which their business relies on, how food gets from farm to folk, and healthy eating. They also learned about food hygiene.
"I believe you have to catch people at a young age to make them aware of good food and healthy eating, also how food gets to the table.
"After the main session we took a whole fish, gutted it, cooked it and turned it into fishcakes to help them understand how the finished item is created from the raw material.
"We had intended to do the same with some fresh rabbit and pigeons but we ran out of time," said Kathie.
She had written to primary schools in local villages and in the Driffield area offering them the experience but so far Bempton is the only one to take it up.
If any other schools are interested in taking part they can call 01377 267284.
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Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
