Jamie Oliver made a surprise visit to the Ministry of Food and Oastler Shopping Centre in Bradford this week.
The chef and campaigner visited the centre run by Bradford Council in John Street yesterday (February 6) to check on the progress of the project that he pioneered in 2008 and to congratulate the staff for their hard work over the past two years.
Jamie was able to catch up with project manager Soraya Overend and Food Officers Lisa McLoughlin and Andie Laidlaw and to watch as a local community group cooked one of his healthy and nutritious dishes.
The course participants from "Supported Living", a project for adults with learning difficulties, were surprised to see Jamie and delighted to offer him a taste of some of the dishes they produced.
Jamie Oliver said: "I was really pleased to see the commitment of the staff who are making a real difference and teaching how to cook fresh and nutritious foods.
"I also wanted to personally thank all the traders in the Oastler Shopping Centre that support the Ministry of Food."
Coun David Green, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration and the Economy, said: "I'm glad Jamie was able to see how big a success the Ministry of Food Centre has been and how much it is helping people out in the community to cook simple, easy but nutritious dishes for themselves."
Colin Wolstenholme, Markets Manager, said: "We were all shocked when Jamie arrived and wanted to help with one of the cooking classes as well as meet traders and shoppers in the Oastler Shopping Centre."
Over 500 students have participated in the Bradford Ministry of Food project in 2011, cooking more than 6000 meals between them.
There are several other Ministry of Food centres in the UK and the food centre in Bradford is currently taking bookings for anyone interested in enrolling on the ten week cooking course which will start at the end of March.
Children's cooking classes are available in half term and school holidays. Contact the food centre on 01274 435279 for more information or visit the website www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc/ministry_of_food
