Our new Cooking Club has quickly become one of the most popular co-curricular activities at Trinity, with more than 50 students applying for 15 places on each block. Led by Executive Chef Tamas and Head of Middle School Mrs Lattery-Lee, the club gives students the chance to learn practical kitchen skills while experimenting with flavours from around the world.
“I have designed a programme, and we start with the basics, like tomato sauce, pesto and simple pastas,” explains Tamas. “We’ve made gnocchi, dumplings and next week it’s kofta with homemade flatbreads. It has to be multicultural. That’s the whole point. Food brings people together.”
Each session balances sweet and savoury dishes, allowing students to choose what they cook. Recent highlights have included Vietnamese and Eastern European dumplings, Halloween biscuits with homemade frosting and, of course, the eternally popular pizza week.
“We teach them about the different ingredients and identifying herbs. What’s been amazing is that the students who attend are more adventurous with what they eat in the canteen now,” says Tamas. “They have a relationship with the catering staff and it encourages them.”
Second year student Ryder says the club has opened the door to trying new dishes. “I just like cooking. It’s fun because I can make the recipes again at home. My favourite thing so far has definitely been the pizza, mostly because I love eating it,” he laughs.
For others, the club offers independence as well as creativity. “Sometimes when my parents are out, I cook for myself,” says Aaron. “So learning more recipes just makes life easier.” Musa added, “I just thought cooking would be fun, and you get to take some home too. It’s not just about the making. It’s about the taste. If it tastes good, that’s what matters.”
Mrs Lattery-Lee is passionate about cooking and was keen to set up a club for some time. She has been working with our caterers Lodestone House to turn it into a reality. She says the response has been overwhelming. “We had fifty Second Years sign up for only fifteen spaces this term. I love the creativity of cooking, and it’s such an important life skill, especially as students prepare to go to university. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. What’s lovely is seeing them talk to our chefs, appreciate the food they eat every day and then go home and cook for their families.”
Cooking Club is offered to different year groups each half term, so everyone can try it. There are plans for all the recipes to be presented to students as a cook book, so they can take it home and practice. There is certainly more to come from Cooking Club!
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With over 250 co-curricular activities at Trinity, there is something for everyone. Many students have started their own, after finding friends – and a supportive teacher – with the same passions.
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