Celebrity chef James Tanner has treated pupils at Yarm School to a cookery masterclass during a visit to the school.
The TV personality, who is a regular on Lorraine, Saturday Kitchen and appeared on Ready, Steady Cook, spent a whole day at the school, which included visiting the Preparatory School and delivering a talk, as well as serving salt and chili calamari in the Senior School’s dining hall.
A selection of pupils were also given a first-hand cooking experience with James in the form of a workshop, with his visit culminating in a Ready, Steady Cook-style challenge with David Dunn, Headmaster of Yarm School, and Bill Sawyer, Headmaster of Yarm Preparatory School competing against each other with their two pupil helpers.
The Red Lobsters were victorious led by Mr Sawyer with the help of Dhruv and Rhianna from the Prep School. Their seabass with a mussel and horseradish sauce seemed to win over the audience, or was it the cute factor!? Either way, both teams and the audience had great fun and the event was entertainingly compered by Chef James.
Celebrity chef James Tanner said: “It’s vital that children are encouraged from an early age to be curious about where the food they eat comes from and to try new foods.
“It’s been fantastic to come into Yarm School to talk to pupils of all ages about the benefits of eating both healthily and sustainably, particularly when it comes to the fish we eat.
“Even the youngest students have enjoyed trying food they may not have eaten before, like shrimp and cockles, and the older students have got stuck into live cookery classes and demonstrations. It’s fabulous to see so many students at Yarm so excited about food and cooking. Some of them may well go on to be the top chefs of the future.”
David Dunn, Headmaster of Yarm School, said: “We were delighted to welcome James to the school which was a great experience. It was interesting to learn about his experiences during his illustrious career, and our pupils loved the various activities that took place on the day.
“I would like to thank James for his visit and Sodexo for making it possible. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and lots of people have been encouraged to eat more sustainable seafood.”