About Us

Pat Oakes

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or even view my YouTube channel

CONTACT ME

ABOUT ME

My name is Pat Oakes and I have over 35 years experience in the catering industry working as a chef in the early years in two of the best hotels in England and then developing my career in contract catering. Latterly I worked in an educational environment supporting schools and colleges.

In October 2008 I launched “The Fun Food Chef” with the simple aim of making a difference through my cooking to children, schools and clients I work with or cater for.

I love food and enjoy seeing others having fun developing new skills, tastes and their passion for food.

I now live in Caergwrle a beautiful village in Flintshire North Wales. I enjoy village life and having the access to the amazing and beautiful Welsh Country side and beaches. The road network ensures I have easy access to all areas of North Wales and North West England.

I have an enhanced CRB certificate 001714033313 (This can be viewed on update service). I also operate from a fully commercial kitchen inspected by the Local Environmental Health Officer and passed to a very good standard awarding 5 stars in the scores on the doors scheme. All electrical appliances I use are PAT tested.

ALL ABOUT THE TASTE

All through your life your taste may change. The receptor cells of your taste buds are constantly refreshing, changing.

This means that what you didn’t like yesterday you may like today and what you don’t like today you may like tomorrow or any time of your life.

How exciting, every day you wake up you could find out you like something new and hopefully a fruit or vegetable to help with your 5 a day!

Remember to taste the healthier options every time you see them! taste them not once, not twice, but three times every time they arrive on your plate. Never worry about food or if you don’t like something after the 3 taste rule, just try it again next time you get a chance.

You eat using all your 5 senses but it is only your taste buds that let let you know if you like something or not! That means the food has to hit the tongue where the taste buds are. Don’t let your eyes or hearing in particular put you off tasting. And don’t let someone else tell you “you won’t like something”. we are individuals. You are the only person with your taste buds, Wow how cool is that .

Remember 1st time you taste something you may get a surprise as it doesn’t taste as you expect. Don’t let this put you off. 2nd time you taste it you can start working out it’s taste sensations, sweet, sour, salty and bitter. It is only after the 3rd taste you can start to decide if you like it or not.

Remember don’t worry about food it can be exciting, entertaining, fun, social not to mention tasty and necessary.

Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It's about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity

Pat’s Pop Up Take-Away

Related posts: 10 Years On Wow what a start to 2017 Head Teachers Book A Unique Inspirational Cooking Experience for Your Pupils this September #FunFoodChef #Wirral Radio Merseyside at Holy Cross Primary

Radio Merseyside at Holy Cross Primary

BBC Radio Merseyside came to see what The Fun Food Chef is all about on the 10th anniversary of my first visit to Holy Cross Primary Wirral This was so exciting for me and the children and staff at Holy Cross Primary. Jimmy arrived and recorded many parts of the school session for […]

Mexican Dishes

I have been asked to write down a few of the dishes included in the Mexican session. Thank you Heswall Primary Year 5 & 6 for a great morning and so glad you enjoyed cooking a Mexican banquet with me and even better you have pushed me to get the recipes written up. You can […]

Mediterranean Chorizo and Chicken Tagliatelle Bake

I even made this in advance of a walking weekend in Malham for my 50th birthday celebrations. Great how food brings back great memories. We popped it in to the bunk barn oven for the hour and sat and chatted before sitting round the large table enjoying this hearty feast. Although I love cooking it […]

10 Years On

Ten years on. Hope you like the video! It’s now 10 years since I came up with the idea of bringing the theater of cooking to schools. Inspired by working within the educational sector for a large support services company and having Alex, my son in preschool and finding myself away from home […]

fun and eductaional cooking workshops for school children

Head Teachers Book A Unique Inspirational Cooking Experience for Your Pupils this September #FunFoodChef #Wirral

Good afternoon all! Half term is nearly here and it’s about to go crazy again for me after Sat’s. If I can ask that you forward to your teachers or Head as a reminder to them of these unique inspirational kids cooking workshop experiences it would be greatly appreciated 🙂 I just wanted […]

Some more Greek Recipes – Chunky Tzatziki, Chick Pea Dip & Simple Tomato & Feta Salad all from my Greek Sessions. Enjoy

Fun Food Chef’s Tzatziki Ok, the dip you buy at the supermarkets might be smooth and white but I urge you to try this chunky dip and see if you go back to the packets and tubs!!! Ingredients 2 Large spoon of Greek Yoghurt ¼ of a Grated cucumber Quarter […]

Wow what a start to 2017

Big Start to 2017 Wow what a start to 2017. It’s been fantastic for the schools involved across Wirral, Halton and Yorkshire. Some new and some old schools have enjoyed the educational food workshops that I run, with the children, and in some cases parents reveling in the experience. They all enjoy cooking up […]

Mussels

We all love mussels in our house, when camping or on the beach and they feature in a number of the sessions I run. It always amazes me that children are keener to taste the mussels than some different vegetables! What better in the summer sun or rain, than a bowl of freshly cooked mussels […]

Pat’s “Fun Food Chef” Dahl

Fantastic dish to sit alongside any curry night or even be the main attraction. You can spice it up with a hotter blend than I’ve used here from Seasoned Pioneers, and I often do. Healthy nutritious and full of flavour what else could you want. May be it’s so easy!! Ingredients 250g Lentils ½ a […]

Cooking Workshops for Schools