Last Friday I woke to the drizzling rain that graces Melbourne every other day, I braved the first sign of cold I had felt in a few weeks since summer had hit, and I marched myself down to Federation Square where Matt Preston announced the launch of Jaimie Oliver’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen for Victoria.
We were first invited to take a wander through Matthew Pember and Fabian Capomolla’s Pop Up Patch, to see the progress of their urban garden beds and to sample some of this season’s best produce.
Breakfast was a frozen berry smoothie and tropical yoghurt and mango pancakes, straight from Jamie’s cookbook. It was easy to forget the miserable weather and imagine ourselves on a tropical island whilst sampling these deliciously exotic treats.
After moseying through the garden and inhaling breakfast, everyone gathered for the arrival of Matt Preston in all his R.M.Williams and pink necktie glory. He worked the crowd with gusto, wetting everyone’s appetite for a celebrity cook-off. The lineup of chefs included Mark Olive, Ian Curley, Minister for Health David Davis and leading nutritionist Lola Berry. Some members of the audience were called upon to ‘apron up’ and get cooking, proving just how easy it is to follow a Ministry of Food class, improve your skills and cook nutritionally.
The Ministry of Food initiative has done wonders for fighting obesity and encouraging healthy eating in the UK. Jamie saw a need for it here in Australia too, and with enough support from the hosting communities, we will see a change. Learning where your food comes from, what is available to you and how to cook something economical, nutritious and tasty is empowering. These classes are easily accessible and affordable, they’re for everyone!
We received the grand tour of Jamie’s mobile kitchen, which will be residing in Bendigo for the first few months of 2013.
If you are reading this in the Bendigo area, here are the hot spots for cooking up a storm:
Bendigo Location 1
11th January – 17th February 2013
Conservatory Carpark
Bull Street, Bendigo
Bendigo Location 2
18th February – 28th March 2013
Long Gully Recreation Reserve
Cunneen Street, Long Gully
For Bendigo bookings or information on future visits from Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen please visit:
http://www.thegoodfoundation.com.au/ministry-of-food/
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