The culinary skills of the next generation of chefs will be honed at a new kitchen unveiled in Perth this week.
Four years in the planning, the ”Masterchefs and Maestros” learning area at Moncreiffe Primary School was officially opened by MSP Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment.
Aimed at promoting healthy eating among youngsters, the kitchen was funded by the school’s parents’ group, Friends of Moncreiffe, along with Perth and Kinross Council.
It will allow children to be taught how to prepare and cook healthy meals, and to make good choices about food.
The school hopes to involve families in the project, getting parents and grandparents into the kitchen to help the children.
”Masterchef and Maestros” has been supported by Graeme Pallister, the chef at the award-winning 63 Tay Street restaurant in Perth, who provided crucial advice on the project. He will also be involved in devising the cooking programme and teaching pupils how to come up with healthy and tasty meals.
”The kitchen is the first purpose-built facility of its kind in a Perth and Kinross school,” said Moncreiffe Primary head teacher Karen Young. ”We are extremely proud to have this at our school. It is a lovely kitchen with great facilities, and I’m sure the children will really enjoy learning in it.”
She added: ”The kitchen has only been possible thanks to fundraising work of Friends of Moncreiffe, and I would like to thank them for their amazing efforts. The council also helped fund the project and has been very supportive of our aims.”
Mr Lochhead said: ”This is a great way of involving pupils in growing and cooking their own vegetables. Food is a vital part of our wellbeing and as part of our national food and drink policy, by helping young people to understand more about where their food comes from, from farm gate to plate, we hope this will instil healthier eating habits for life.”