Baking a good impression

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners, Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, gave Highbury College Portsmouth a visit to get a taste of what students learn in its professional training kitchens.

After a tour of the Highbury City of Portsmouth Centre's vocational facilities, the minister put on chef whites and got stuck in to making bread with students in the pastry kitchen.

Mrs McCarthy-Fry said: "I certainly enjoyed it. An important thing that students learn here is what it is really like to work in a restaurant so when they finish their course they are fit and ready for work."

The visit came as Highbury launched its healthy eating competition Kick Off Cook Off, in partnership with Portsmouth FC and Portsmouth City Council.

The competition will see the college inviting children from local schools into their training kitchens to prepare a healthy three-course menu. After all the menus are judged, the winners will have the chance to prepare a gala dinner in the College's Chimes Fine Dining restaurant for guests of their choice and a Portsmouth footballer.

McCarthy-Fry added: "Any way you can engage young people's interest and encourage them to cook and to understand where their food comes from is great.

"We have got the issue of keeping young people healthy and the importance of a healthy diet. If you don't get your diet right when you're young, the problems can lead to ill health in later life."

Words: Maria Bracken

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