Food tips served up at library
Celebrated Stirling-born chef, Theodore Chana, hosted a cookery masterclass at Central Library recently to share his tips and techniques for cooking healthy meals with minimal environmental impact.
Part of the Scottish Library and Information Council’s (SLIC) Shelf
Life campaign, the free evening event highlighted the importance of introducing responsible cooking practices at home to improve health and reduce waste.
With culinary experience from around the globe and appearances on BBC’S Masterchef: The Professionals and The Great British Bake Off, Theodore shared the knowledge and skills gained throughout his 18 year career with the Stirling audience.
Emphasising the importance of locally sourced, organic ingredients to reduce carbon footprint, he said: “My passion for cooking delicious and vibrant sustainable food stems from my parents. Having learned how to cook from my mother using only fresh ingredients and watching my father’s passion for growing his own produce, I found a love for fresh food and natural ingredients from a young age.
“That’s why it’s important for me to share key ways to reduce food waste, which anyone can implement. From using every part of an ingredient and composting leftovers, to demonstrating energy-efficient cooking methods, I hope the attendees take away just how sustainable cooking not only benefits the environment but also how it can lead to a healthier lifestyle for the whole family.”
SLIC’S Shelf Life campaign - which was awarded a share of the Scottish Government’s £550,000 Climate Engagement Fund, as part of its Net Zero ambitions - aims to get people around Scotland to join the climate change debate through a series of practical and inspiring events tailored for school, family and adult audiences.
Marion Kunderan, acting head of programme at SLIC, said:“shelf Life allows us to continue our work in driving the conversation around climate action, expanding our efforts to reach and inspire new audiences.
“Libraries already play a central role in the climate action conversation, so it makes sense to continue this learning in these much-loved community hubs.”