Community cooks get some inspiration from Jamie Oliver

Two community cooks from Peterborough Open Door Baptist Church, in Harris Street, Carol Knight (pictured) and Helal Almsawet, have learned how to make the most of surplus food donations and minimise food waste after taking part in the Tesco Community Cookery School with Jamie Oliver,

Open Door Baptist Church is one of 7,000 charities and community groups to receive free surplus food from Tesco stores via food distribution charity Fareshare under the supermarket’s Community Food Connection scheme.

The cookery school, launched in January of this year, helps to provide community cooks with the food knowledge to make use of whatever is in the donations that arrive at their kitchen door.

During the course, cooks learn everything from knife skills and nutrition to recipes for versatile base sauces which can be adapted to complement a wide variety of donated food. Training is free and attendees receive cooking equipment, plus a folder of Jamie’s Oliver’s recipes.

Speaking after completing the course, Carol said: “Thanks to Tesco we have been able to feed around 200 people per week, including families with children who receive the food.

“The cookery school has made us far better equipped to produce nutritious meals using the vegetables donated by Tesco.

Jamie Oliver said: “This is exactly what this programme is all about – learning new skills in the kitchen that can be passed on, all while helping to fight food waste.”

Carol with her award.