School Cooks Tackle Parc Y Scarlets

Two cooks from Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering department have teamed up with Parc Y Scarlets as part of National School Meals Week.

School cooks Kelly Melbourne and Tracey Rutherford from the Catering Service took time out from their day jobs to get a taste of life in a commercial kitchen.

During their placement at Parc Y Scarlets the school cooks undertook food preparation ranging from fine dining and weddings to corporate events. The kitchen swap was organised by Carmarthenshire’s catering services team and Parc Y Scarlets Head Chef Mick Snelling.

School cooks, Kelly and Tracey said:” We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Parc Y Scarlets for giving us the opportunity to join the team for the day.

“It was an amazing experience to see how another business in the catering service operates”.

As part of the nationwide National School Meals Week initiative, which celebrates school lunches, the campaign provided school cooks the opportunity to take part in placements in different venues across the UK and as a successful business.

Each school meal accounts for one-third of a child’s daily nutritional intake and within a school setting children benefit from the healthiest lunches possible, receiving a well-balanced, tasty dish which can prolong their energy for their afternoon lessons.

Catering services manager Sandra Weigel said:”Kelly and Tracey represent the hundreds of school cooks who work hard to prepare, cook and serve thousands of nutritious, well-balanced and healthy school meals every day.

“It was great to have this commercial experience as part of their continued personal development, and we are very grateful to Parc Y Scarlets for their support.”

For further information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk or call 01267 246521.