'Cook and fun' did exactly what it said on the apron, as it probably best describes the action in the training kitchens of Athlone Institute of Technology over the past three weeks.
The chopping boards, blenders and saucepans at AIT have been put to good use by children and young people aged from 7 to 17 participating in the popular summer camps.
For chef and camp leader, Brian O’Ruairc, running Cook and Fun has been a labou
r of love. “The kids are fantastic, they really want to get stuck in and try new things. We’ve organised very varied menus from snacks and buns, though to smoothies and dinners. There were lots of different levels of experience in the kitchen amongst the children, but I think every one enjoyed it,” he said.
The purpose of Cook and Fun was to offer a camp where the participants learn basic (but interesting!) cooking skills, while having fun with kids their own age. They were taught simple cooking skills that can be used in exciting, healthy and fun dishes. The children also received a complimentary t-shirt, apron and chef’s hat.
AIT offers a wide range of programmes for the hospitality, tourism and leisure studies industry, ranging from honours degrees to craft certificates. Graduates from the institute are employed in leading hotels and restaurants in Ireland and around the world. In February, AIT-trained chef, Colin Kelly from Tullamore, received a prestigious Michelin star at the Wild Honey restaurant in Mayfair, London.
The full article contains 262 words and appears in Longford Leader Weekender newspaper.
