Young Masterchefs serve up success
Young care experienced people got the chance to become ‘Masterchefs’ this week as they prepared and cooked lunch for some local VIPs at Hurlford Primary School.
Organised to mark National Care Leavers’ Week, the event involved twelve young people having the opportunity to learn and develop new culinary skills and cook a three-course meal for their VIP guests including Depute Provost Claire Leitch.
The idea came from discussions between Mark Hunter, the Council’s Strategic Lead for Food and Facilities Support, and Family Support Practitioners Jamie Turnbull and Nikki Finlayson, who wanted to share a live cooking experience with the young people. As well as training with a chef, they got to organise the event and create a menu for their invited guests before preparing the food using local produce. The menu included roasted red pepper and tomato or cream of vegetable soup with fresh focaccia, Katsu chicken curry or vegetable tempura, and white chocolate cheesecake or raspberry shortcake for dessert.
Depute Provost Leitch said: “The lunch was delicious and all of the young people really did themselves proud. Thanks go to Mark and East Ayrshire Catering Team for supporting the event. Food education is very important and we have a real passion for working with the community and helping to develop young people’s talents. I’m sure all of the young people have learned some great new cooking skills over the past couple of days that they can put to very good use in the future.”
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