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Founded in 1990, the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Adopt a School Programme helps children to develop healthy eating habits and encourages an enthusiasm and interest in food; cooking, food provenance and sustainability, as well as giving an insight into the hospitality industry.

Senior Business Development Chef, Jon Harvey-Barnes, has been working with the charity for many years, helping to deliver high quality food education in primary schools across the country.

Last month, Jon visited Alveston Manor Hotel, together with the pupils of Alveston Primary School. During the session, the children were given an insight into a hospitality role, accessing all areas of the hotel – particularly the pastry kitchen where the children prepared cookies!

Jon commented, “Essential Cuisine are so passionate about educating young people about food. Engaging with kids during their early stages not only helps them improve and hone basic kitchen skills, it’s also vital in helping them understand food and its importance on their individual wellbeing.”

“I want to thank the team at Alveston Manor Hotel for helping me host such an interesting, interactive session during a busy service. As always, I came away feeling delighted as several of the pupils declared that they would love to be chefs in the future. They were all so excited to take their freshly baked cookies home to show their parents.”

The Essential Cuisine team prides itself on offering education and support to fledgling and professional chefs of all ages. The company is a patron of the Adopt a School charity, the creator of the Essential Skills Series and a key sponsor of the South West Young Chef of the Year competition. It’s chef team regularly give up their free time to mentor and offer ‘kitchen takeovers’ to chefs of all levels throughout the industry.

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