Delectable aromas of classic Italian cuisine are set to waft out of Bunbury’s Edith Cowan University as Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food takes its community based cooking classes to the South West.
Operating out of a swanky and fully equipped mobile kitchen, the van will be stationed at the campus for the next seven weeks, offering one 90-minute cooking class per week with up to 12 participants at a time.
The classes feature basic home cooking skills aimed at teaching people how to cook from scratch with fresh food to benefit health, happiness and one’s pocket.
The mobile kitchen features a bright and warm space, bubbly food trainers and is topped with vegetables and herbs fresh from the campus garden.
ECU Bunbury Dean Lyn Farrell said the excitement surrounding the debut of the project had been brewing within the local community since the start of the year, with many sessions already fully booked.
“These guys can see an approach that has an impact and that’s teaching people how to cook and to make choices with food,” Ms Farrell said.
“It has both the theory and practice of what it is to be engaged in nutrition.
“The research shows that this project in other places has improved healthy living for people who have engaged and that’s certainly one of the things we promote.
“Our students who are training in health, social work and education are going to have opportunities and it’s mainly for the South West community.”
Jamie’s Ministry of Food trainer and ECU Joondalup dietetics graduate Alex Taucher, said she’s stoked to transfer her passion and knowledge of food to the community.
“I grew up in a family where food is very integral to celebrations and we always had dinner around the table,” Ms Taucher said.
“When I studied nutrition and dietetics, I learnt that it’s not something all families have.
“That’s why I love teaching school kids because I think healthy cooking starts at home.
“And Jamie’s message is that if you can teach one person how to cook, they’ll teach four other people.”
Ms Taucher said the best part of her job was watching families interact and connect through cooking.
“We’re making spaghetti meatballs and the kids get involved...smashing crackers and rolling meatballs,” she said.
“It really brings the family back together.”
For all class dates, times and bookings, visit www.jamiesministryoffood.com
The mobile kitchen is located at the south end of Car Park 5 at the Bunbury ECU Campus.
