蜜桃传媒

蜜桃传媒鈥檚 training kitchens provided the backdrop for a community culture cooking session where more than 70 families got to roll up their sleeves and learn how to make Jamaican dishes with an expert chef.

Let鈥檚 Get Culture Cooking with Families, delivered by 2 Much Passion CIC as part of a Bring it on Brum! food festival, gave local people the chance to master a range of Caribbean food with Chef Dane from Dane鈥檚 Caribbean Catering, inspired by his place of birth.

Crucially, it was the perfect opportunity to inspire the next generation of chefs from Birmingham at the training ground of everyone from Michelin Star restaurant founder Brad Carter to MasterChef champ Dan Lee.

The day started聽with聽a demonstration of Jamaican corned beef and rice, vegetable soup and saltfish and callaloo fritters, followed by a lunch of authentic curry goat with rice and vegetables or chickpea聽curry in the University鈥檚 award-winning Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food in Summer Row.

The聽families聽then got to recreate all the dishes in a real hands-on, interactive session in the University鈥檚 commercial training kitchens, along with healthy fruit and vegetable options to encourage them to eat more healthy foods.聽

At the end, everyone was presented with a Jamaican food box and recipe booklet to carry on the experience at home.

Vanessa Kelly, managing director of聽2 Much Passion CIC, said it was a fabulous day that got families making scrumptious, multicultural food.

鈥淲e are committed to teaching and creating mouth-watering projects which take learners on a journey of culinary skills, but also real-life cooking that will impact their health and wellbeing,鈥� she said.

鈥淭o be able to host this event in the beautiful聽restaurant and commercial kitchens聽at Birmingham College of Food was an amazing experience for them and fantastic fun.

鈥淔eedback was excellent,聽with聽families聽not being able to fault it, just wishing they had more time. These young people are the next generation聽of chefs and this is the perfect platform to start that journey.鈥�

Kali Davidson, head of Birmingham College of Food, said: 鈥淲e were really proud to get behind this project, working聽with聽the community and opening up our fantastic facilities to show our support.

鈥淚t was a brilliant day with聽so many聽families聽embracing the initiative and Dane was a true star.

鈥淲e look forward to working with more community organisations on projects which have such a positive impact, and welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone who has any ideas.鈥�

Dane was the perfect pick as demonstration chef for the day.

By the age of 10, he had learned to roll dumplings and other basic dishes with his mother and vowed to one day launch his own food business and propel Jamaican food into the mainstream.

Today, Dane鈥檚 Caribbean Catering hosts both private functions and corporate events with a menu featuring traditional Jamaican fare with a twist, all prepared using the freshest of locally sourced ingredients.

Bring it on Brum! is funded by Birmingham City Council聽and runs a series of 鈥楥ome and Try鈥� and family food festival events over the school holidays.

2 Much Passion CIC is available聽to book and partner with community groups to bring their mobile cooking school to the community.