Ha ha, me hearty appetites!
8:52am Friday 1st March 2013 in News
A FEAST fit for a band of pirates was dished up “on board” a Westhoughton primary school.
But there were no tasteless hard biscuits or horrible weevils to contend with as the hungry bunch, dressed in their best pirate gear, took to the school dining room for some Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired dishes.
More than a 100 hungry youngsters at St Thomas’ CE School Chequerbent tucked into a two-course meal of spicy chicken meatballs with vegetable cous cous garnished with plantain — also known as “potatoes of the Caribbean” — and coriander, followed by strawberries layered with yoghurt served with a cherry ginger cookie.
The meal was cooked up by school chef Michaela Gore, who is a regional finalist in this year’s School Chef of the Year.
So in the run-up to the finals on March 15, she tried out the dishes on her toughest judges — the pupils.
Not only did she have to come up with two new dishes which would appeal to an 11-years-old but ensure it only cost £1.50 ahead. Mrs Gore, who has worked at the school for 10 years, said: “I like a challenge, it is something exciting and it involves the children.
“This is the most adventurous dish I have entered, because of the spices.
“I wanted to tie the dishes in with what the children were learning, which was about the continents and how people live and eat around the world.”
The school dining room was transformed into a Caribbean island for the special meal and kitchen staff also dressed as pirates.
Mrs Gore, who has a 14-year-old daughter, Rebecca, said: “It is a risk when you try new dishes on children, but the comments were very positive and they cleaned their plate.”
And if the judges are anything like the pupils, then she should do well.
Jack Glynn, aged 11, said: “Dinnertime was different and exciting. The meal was mouthwatering and out of this world.”
Jasmine Gower, aged 11, added: “The meatballs were tasty and tender. It was scrumptious,” while George Brierley, also 11, said: “There were good flavours, and the chicken meatballs were delicious and tender.”
This is the third time Mrs Gore has reached this stage in the competition and in 2010 she was highly commended.
