Young chefs delight guests at Kid’s Kitchen event

On Monday 28 November 2022, the Rotary Club of Felixstowe hosted Kid’s Kitchen at the Alex Brasserie in Felixstowe.

The annual culinary event is part of the Rotary Club’s Youth Development work, which provides opportunities to young people in Felixstowe and surrounding villages. Other Youth Development projects organised by the Rotary Club of Felixstowe include the ITFC Inter-school Football Tournament at Portman Road and Clip n’climb for junior schools.

Kid’s Kitchen gave eight students from a local Felixstowe high school the chance to be part of a five-week course learning kitchen, cookery and serving skills, culminating in the main event at the Alex Brasserie where the young chefs created a delicious three-course meal for 48 guests, including Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Sharon Harkin, Rotary members, the students’ parents, Peter Senior, who is in charge of Rotary’s Young Chef nationally, and Carl from Bushfire Photography who took stunning photos at the event.

The mouth-watering menu, which was prepared and cooked by the students under the supervision of head chef Preston from Yeo Group, featured a selection of homemade breads with flavoured oils, smoked chicken and chestnut mushroom gratin with white wine and tarragon sauce and parmesan glaze, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with roast garlic mash, tender stem broccoli and grain mustard sauce, and hot chocolate fondant with marshmallow ice cream and honeycomb crumb.

After the meal, speeches and presentations were made by the Mayor of Felixstowe and Rotary Club president Andrew Rowdon. All eight talented students received a trophy for their admirable efforts, and two young chefs earned further praise for their dedication, attention and cooking skills. Kayden Hughes and Joanna Kozlowska excelled themselves and have been given the opportunity to take part in the Suffolk Young Chef competition, which is presented by Peter Senior, and Joanna received the Top Chef award from the Mayor of Felixstowe.

Well-deserved, excellent feedback was received from guests and students. One guest said: ‘What you are doing for these children is fantastic. It obviously goes down well with the kids, the parents and all who attend.’ Another said: ‘Many thanks to president Andrew Rowdon, everyone else involved in the Rotary Club and also to the Alex. It really is a great event which has left a strong lasting impression on the students and parents alike. We look forward to it again next year.’ One of the young chefs commented: ‘It gave me so much confidence and gave me an understanding of how a commercial kitchen works.’

The Rotary Club of Felixstowe would like to thank everyone who helped make Kid’s Kitchen a huge success again in 2022, including the eight students, head chef Preston from Yeo Group, the Rotary Youth Development committee and Carl from Bushfire Photography for the fantastic photos.