A CELEBRITY chef came to Chester to get himself kitted out – and deliver a healthy eating message.
Gary Rhodes visited Overleigh St Mary’s Primary School in Handbridge to encourage the children to release their creative flair and design an apron for him.
The chef and restaurateur has joined forces with the Junior Chefs Academy to promote healthy attitudes to cooking and having fun with food.
The competition is open to children from all Chester primary schools and there are categories from ages four to 11.
The successful finalists who design the most eye-catching apron for Gary will be invited to a prize-giving event in December, when they will get the chance to meet the TV chef and win prizes for themselves and their schools.
The Junior Chefs Academy is run by husband-and-wife team Paul and Sue Cooper. Paul has trained local chefs for 15 years.
Gary said: “I am delighted to be a part of the Junior Chefs Academy. It is so important that we educate children about the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet and give them the practical skills to achieve it. Through Junior Chefs Academy, this can be achieved while having good fun.”
The team was at Overleigh St Mary’s for three days working with children on a specially created berry stack based on a summer pudding.
Sponsored by What’s Cooking and chester.com, the project is already a success story in Wirral, where the creative cooking team have delivered workshops in more than 80 schools.
Headteacher Elaine Devine said: “The Junior Chefs Academy brought fun practical sessions which delivered clear messages about healthy eating.
“Our school hall was transformed into a chefs training centre and the children were thrilled with their Overleigh St Mary’s berry stacks. Meeting Gary Rhodes was an added bonus and it was an exciting and enjoyable start to the new year.”
