Little chefs a class act in the kitchen

Robyn Riley

Herald Sun, 15 November 2009

WE media types know there is no such thing as a free lunch.

But there was one lunch I went to during the week that I don't mind plugging.

It was held at the Mentone Park Primary School's Kids' Cafe and on offer was a meal prepared by the year 5 and 6 students.

The Kids' Cafe is the bright idea of parent Sue Barron and deputy principal Perry Kick. It started out by offering students a home-cooked meal, prepared by parents, in the school canteen every Friday.

That idea soon mushroomed.

Mr Kick said the small school couldn't justify using the canteen only one day a week, so he and Ms Barron came up with a program to include cooking classes for students.

They then established a vegetable patch at the school, nurtured by the students, to provide fresh produce.

Watching the schoolchildren at that lunch would warm the heart of any parent.

They designed the invitations, cooked the food and acted as waiters.

"We want the students to develop a healthy lifestyle," Mr Kick said. "This program is a hands-on approach."

All 260 pupils are involved, with the school running healthy eating challenges.

And the lunch I was invited to was the finale for the year.

Restaurant Day they called it.

The students got a kick out of it, but so did all the diners.

Let's hope this clever idea spreads to other schools.