A lesson in culinary skills

Pub caterers are being urged to get involved with teaching children more about cooking and local produce during British Food Fortnight.

Hundreds of chefs have already signed up to work with schools and help teachers organise practical cookery activities during the two weeks from 23 September to 8 October. The aim is to emulate a French idea - up to 3,500 French chefs team up with schools every October to teach children about delights of their national cuisine.

An innovative guide to incorporating cookery into the curriculum is being sent to all schools in England and Wales in the build-up to the event.

Alex and Karen Duxby-Watkinson, owners of the Mare & Foal in Yeoford, Devon, will work with the 32 pupils at Yeoford Community Primary School, helping them devise a three-course menu which they will cook and eat at the pub.

Karen said: "The idea is to encourage the children to appreciate local home-grown food and teach them useful skills which they can use at home."

The theme of this year's British Food Fortnight is "Are you Cooking it?" The event aims to inspire chefs and consumers to cook classic British dishes such as shepherd's pie and apple crumble.

Punch Taverns, Everards and Union Pub Company are encouraging their licensees to get involved in the promotion with special dishes and menus. Steve Schaffer, catering development manager for Punch Taverns, said: "Up to 1,000 of our pubs took part in the last British Food Fortnight and this year I am encouraging even more to participate. I would like to see at least five locally-produced dishes on every pub menu across Britain."

It is hoped that pub chefs will add traditional dishes with a modern twist to their menus.

British Food Fortnight organiser Alexia Robinson said: "The exciting atmosphere that is already building up in anticipation of this year's event reflects the heyday that British food is enjoying. People are passionate about British food: retailers want to stock it, pubs and restaurants are clamouring to put it on their menus and schools are beginning to join in by making it central to their curriculum teaching."

For more information on British Food Fortnight and to order resources contact Alexia Robinson or Jen Stubbings on 0207 840 9292, email info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk or visit www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk.