Families from all over the Bradford district will be glued to their TV screens later this month (October) to watch their teenagers cooking with chef Jamie Oliver and Coun Kris Hopkins, Leader of Bradford Council.
Fourteen teenagers made fresh pasta from scratch with parmesan, chilli and cherry tomatoes, in a 'pass it on' pyramid at the Cafe West healthy living centre on Allerton estate.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience for the youngsters came about after Coun Kris Hopkins was invited to meet Jamie by the Local Government Yorkshire and Humber organisation.
Jamie made national headlines when he criticised "rubbish" school dinners and promoted healthy eating for children.
In his latest series which starts on Tuesday September 30, Jamie is visiting Bradford, Rotherham, Hull and Scarborough to cook in the community.
In Bradford he asked for the Council's help to get children from different ethnic backgrounds together who had never met to "cook and bond" together.
Children from Allerton, Thornton, Cottingley, Windhill, Manningham and the inner city had a great time cooking. Jamie taught two teenagers and then supervised them passing on the recipe to another two each, who then passed it on to another eight.
Coun Kris Hopkins, who enjoys cooking healthy meals and keeping fit, said: "I'm delighted Jamie has been up to Bradford. We need ambassadors like him who young people admire to show that healthy eating can be fun. Cooking with Jamie and local young people was really enjoyable and we all learnt new skills."
Ann Wild, Cafe West Manager, said: "We have a lovely modern purpose built centre here in Allerton with excellent facilities. These include a cafe offering healthy meals and snacks and an internet cafe anyone can use for just £1 an hour.
"We have a large hall and meeting rooms and offer a whole host of services from counselling to smoking cessation sessions and numerous sports, dance and exercise classes. I hope more people will call in and see all that's on offer on their doorstep following Jamie Oliver's visit."
Chris Slaven, Bradford Council's Neighbourhood Manager for Allerton, said: "The fact that Jamie Oliver loved this venue is a great testimony to the work and effort Cafe West has put into improving the health of the community of Allerton and Lower Grange. Jamie showed how good food can be prepared and cooked very easily and hopefully this opportunity can be exploited further and healthy eating can be enjoyed by all."
Media Relations Officer:
Sue Butterfield
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 30/09/2008
