Celebrity Chef Prue Leith visits King's!
Prue Leith OBE, celebrity chef and Chair of the School Food Trust formally opened the new King's Restaurant and Kitchen on 30 November 2009.
During the visit Prue was briefed on the school's 'catering journey' and met many members of the school community including pupils, catering staff, teachers, as well as governors, trustees and catering equipment suppliers.
Including two large Hackman Metos cooking kettles, combination ovens, a blast chiller and hot food delivery boxes – replacing a traditional school layout based on cooking ranges with ovens under – the new kitchen at King’s is inspired by the Finnish schools system, an idea introduced by management consultant and education specialist Richard Wedgbury FCSI.
PICTURED: Prue Leith formally opens the new kitchen.
“This is a wonderful facility,” said Prue, “and I am delighted to see that the school spent as much on catering equipment as on the furniture.”
The King’s School has spent over £200,000 on the refurbishment. It has since gained national recognition as a School Catering Centre of Excellence and has won two awards; the School Food Trust ‘School of the Month’ award; and the School Catering Manager, Stewart Scrupps (ex army warrant officer) was recognised as ‘School Caterer of the Year’ in October 2009.
In addition, the school was a finalist in the Education Business Awards ‘School Catering’ category.
“This is a wonderful facility,” said Prue, “and I am delighted to see that the school spent as much on catering equipment as on the furniture.”
The King’s School has spent over £200,000 on the refurbishment. It has since gained national recognition as a School Catering Centre of Excellence and has won two awards; the School Food Trust ‘School of the Month’ award; and the School Catering Manager, Stewart Scrupps (ex army warrant officer) was recognised as ‘School Caterer of the Year’ in October 2009.
In addition, the school was a finalist in the Education Business Awards ‘School Catering’ category.
PICTURED: Prue Leith meets the main catering equipment suppliers to King’s Grantham: (L-R) Prue Leith; Alan Drayton – BGL Rieber (Hackman Metos kettles, food delivery boxes); Dave Parkinson – Stangard Design Solutions (installed the kitchen); Colin Nevitt – Falcon Foodservice Equipment (Eloma combination ovens). Pictured far right is Richard Wedgbury FCSI, Alexander John Richardson & Associates. Cooking in the Finnish school style was a concept introduced to King’s by Richard, who continues to help and advise the school in his role as a management consultant.
SELF FUNDING
The kitchen at King’s School will be ‘self-funding’ proclaims Bursar Peter Kirkbride.
The plan is to improve the uptake from King’s pupils and provide schools outside with food using Rieber delivery boxes. “The kitchen will pay for itself in 3.5 years,” says Kirkbride.
For the full story behind the new kitchen, click here: King's Grantham full story
For more information on Hackman Metos cooking kettles, click here: Hackman Metos
Prue Leith, delighted to receive a token of thanks for her visit from the school. 