Fun Food chef Pat Oaks delivers French culinary masterclass for pupils of St Augustine’s Primary School in Runcorn Jun 30 2011 by Daniel Mckenzie, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

FUN Food Chef Pat Oakes delivered a culinary masterclass to pupils of St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Runcorn, last week to educate the pupils about all things French.

Using French flour, the children had the opportunity to make and taste baguettes, mussels and a variety of other delicacies.

Pupils aged three-11 took part in the fun-filled day of activity, and Pat taught the children basic cooking skills and the importance of food hygiene and keeping a balanced diet.

This is the second time the Fun Food Chef has visited St Augustine’s, to give the children a taster session of another culture. For more details on Pat Oakes, visit www.funfoodchef.co.uk.

Professional chef teaches pupils from Hallwood Park Primary School in Runcorn importance of eating healthy

January 10th 2011

Children from a Runcorn primary school cooked up a healthy treat with the help of a professional chef last week.

Fun food chef Pat Oakes visited Hallwood Park Primary School to teach pupils basic cooking skills and the importance of having a balanced diet.

Pupils aged three to 11 took part in the fun-filled day of activity, with many making their own vegetable pizzas and healthy milkshakes.

Susan Humphries, acting headteacher at Hallwood Park, said: “It was a really exciting day for all of the pupils.

“We do a lot to encourage the children to eat healthily and Pat had some great new ideas.

“He really caught the imagination of the pupils and I think we have a few budding Jamie Olivers at Hallwood Park.”

Simms Cross pupils have fun cooking

8:30am Thursday 23rd September 2010

ENTHUSIASTIC children learnt how to bake Moroccan bread and Mozambique chicken.

Every pupil at Simms Cross Primary School in Widnes, joined fun food chef, Pat Oakes, for an action-packed lesson.

Teacher Amanda Cowell, said: “The children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“We invited the food chef in to encourage the children to develop a healthier lifestyle and share the information and experience with their parents.”

Youngsters aged three to 11 had a go at cooking all sorts of food with an African theme.

They explored dishes from as far afield as Cameroon and South Africa.

Chef Pat Oakes, from the Wirral, has worked with hundreds of children.

He said:”Schools across Halton have benefited from our fun and extremely interactive sessions.

“We are strong in our beliefs of using local produce where possible, free range egggs and chickens and ecological practices and products.”

16th August 2010-09-07

This article is written about the course designed and delivered by The Fun Food Chef.  

Jacob Lea-Brown caramelises the creme brulees

ENTHUSIASTIC teenagers served their own homemade three course lunch, inspired by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

The youngsters spent five days learning how to plan, prepare and cook 10 different dishes, following Jamie’s tips on cheap, healthy recipes.

It was part of the Ministry of Food for Young people, an idea created by Rob Warburton, of Halton Council’s youth service.

Rob, said: “It is hoped that teenagers will be so inspired by this project, that they will become peer educators themselves in driving forward the healthy food message.

“The group has learnt a great deal over the five days and to conclude the week by planning, preparing and cooking a healthy three-course meal for a number of people is a great achievement.”

The young people prepared quiche and salad for starters, followed by roast belly pork, vegetables and potatoes and creme brulee for dessert.

Rob added: “We want the Ministry of Food project to lead to dozens of young people across Halton enjoying food, learning about ingredients, preparing and cooking healthy meals for themselves, their friends and their families.”

The lunch was served to a group of guests at The Hub in Grangeway, Runcorn.

The project is run in partnership with the health improvement team and aims to show teenagers that cooking healthy, nutritious food is good for them, great fun and is not expensive.

Pam Worrall, health improvement manager, said: “Engaging teenagers in projects such as Ministry of Food is crucial in promoting an all round health improvement message.”

Wirral pupil Kyle’s culinary corker!

Wirral Globe Wednesday 7th October 2009 (Web)

A Wirral pupil has taken top prize in the British Food Festival cookery challenge.

In this year’s challenge, schools asked pupils to use seasonal British ingredients to design and cook a meal that contains a healthy balance of food groups plus at least two five-a-day portions of fruit or veg.

The winning recipe came from year ten student Kyle Jones, from Moreton who attends Mosslands School in Wallasey.

Kyle came up with a tasty recipe called "Seasonal September Stew."

Last Friday professional chef Pat Oakes - the "Fun Food Chef", performed a cooking demonstration for Mosslands students and served up Kyle’s dish to special guest, Mike Withy, Wirral’s sports development chief.

Gareth Hill, from NHS Wirral’s healthy schools team, said: “We had some cracking entries but we chose Kyle’s as his recipe was simple, hearty, nutritious and uses a good balance of ingredients.

"We’re sure Pat’s demonstration will get the pupils of Mosslands really interested in practical cookery.” All the recipes will be posted on the Wirral Learning Grid and Taste for Health websites (www.tasteforhealth.com/). For more information on healthy living visit www.wirral.nhs.uk

You First Issue 23 Autumn 2009

Runcorn & Widnes World 10th August 2009

A GROUP of Halton teenagers served up a three-course meal for invited guests following a week-long cookery course.

The Fun Food Chef organised by Halton’s Youth Service and Halton and St Helens NHS Trusts gave eight teenagers the chance to learn how to plan, prepare and cook 10 different dishes throughout last week.

Rob Warburton, who works for Halton Youth Service, created the Ministry of Food for Young People to get them interested in cooking.

Rob, aged 37, said: “We want this to lead to dozens of young people in the area enjoying food, learning about ingredients and cooking healthily for themselves and their families.”

The scheme stems from a number of others run by Halton Borough Council which has made its school meals service one of the healthiest in the country.
On the final day the youngsters cooked a meal for guests including Tracey Walsh, head of Halton Youth Service.

Clr Marie Wright, executive board member for the community, said: “This is an ideal chance for people with a real appetite to learn some new skills.”
The teenagers who took part will be invited back during October half term with eight of their peers to spread the message of eating healthily. 

Liverpool Echo 10th August 2009

This Ministry of Food for Young People was created by Rob Warburton of Halton Borough Council’s Youth Service.

He said: “Our hope is that the initial eight young people will be so inspired by the project that they will become peer educators and invite eight of their peers to repeat the process at a later date.

“We want this to lead to dozens of young people across Halton enjoying food; learning about ingredients; preparing and cooking healthy meals for themselves, their peers and their families.

“Not only this but we believe the project has the potential to increase their confidence and self-esteem; raise their aspirations and so much more in a safe, secure and fun environment.”

Let's Go Magazine (Wirral) 

Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News (26th March 2009). 

The Grange Infant School takes part in the Fun Food Chef Challenge.

The Grange Infant School takes part in the Fun Food Chef Challenge.

THE GRANGE Infant School pupils enjoyed an interactive cooking experience when they received a visit from the Fun Food Chef.

Pat Oakes talked Years One and Two pupils through how to prepare fresh pizzas, strawberry milkshakes and fruit yoghurt granola pots.

The competition, which was open to all school children in Cheshire and Wirral, was won by Year One pupils Hope Ireland (first prize) and Rhys Gwillym (second prize), both from The Grange.

Hope won a red fleece jacket and a family cook book and Rhys won a book voucher.

The two winners were also handed vouchers for their school for their next booking of The Fun Food Chef.

A school spokeswoman said: “The principles of great food and great fun where adhered to with great effect and the participating children are still talking about their action packed-day.”

For more details visit www.funfoodchef.co.uk

NHS Wirral Matters (March 2009)