MasterChef champ challenges kids to cook at Thame Food Festival

MasterChef winner, Natalie Coleman

CHILDREN from three Thame primary schools are being given the chance to step up to the stage with BBC One’s MasterChef winner 2013 Natalie Coleman at this year’s Thame Food Festival, by taking part in a competition at their school to say why they want to cook with her.

Year five and year six children at John Hampden County, Barley Hill and St Joseph’s Catholic primary schools are getting their thinking caps on in the hope that they will be chosen to join Natalie when she gives the festival’s first ever cookery demo devised especially for children.

Natalie, who has recently taken up the role of Ambassador of Central Street Cookery School at St Luke’s Community Centre in London, is first up on the demo stage this year with a 45 minute session just for young foodies to sit at. In it she hopes to inspire the children to learn about food and pick up new skills and ideas that they can try when they cook at home.

One lucky child from each school will get the chance to join Natalie, and take home a signed copy of her cookery book1, if they can impress her and festival patron Lotte Duncan, as to why they should get a chance to cook with her. 

“We’re challenging the children to tell us why they want to cook with Natalie and get a place in the spotlight at this year’s Thame Food Festival,” says Lotte. “We know that children love to cook and that being able to cook is a great thing to be able to do. It’s fun and brings the family together, plus it’s a good way to give children valuable skills for life.

“Helping children gain these skills is also a passion of Natalie’s which is why she’s chosen to cook especially for and with them at the festival,” she says. “Now, more than ever it’s important for children to learn about food and get into cooking right from the beginning. Given the children’s reaction to the competition, and the support from their teachers, I know we’re going to get some fantastic reasons why they should cook with Natalie and we can’t wait to see them rise to the challenge on the day,” she adds.h

The three competition winners will be announced in the run-up to the Thame Food Festival and appear with Natalie Coleman on the cookery demo stage at 10am on Saturday, 26th September.

Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm on Saturday 26th September 2015 in the heart of Thame town centre. www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk