In late 2023, Maz and Nikita from the Vegetarian Society Cookery School team visited St John’s School to view the school catering service. The school, which is already ‘proud’ of its healthy lunch options, sought specialised vegetarian and vegan training for its catering team.
Cara Demetriades, the Bursar at St John's, said: "When looking for vegetarian-specific training suitable for a school catering team, the Vegetarian Society Cookery School seemed to fit our needs perfectly. There was a fantastic energy and positivity to the training. Staff also really enjoyed trying the dishes.
“We have implemented a number of the dishes the team were taught in our menu cycle this term, staff are really enjoying them and we are encouraging the children to give these new options a try. I also felt the training helped to establish a stronger sense of team.”
The Vegetarian Society Cookery School works with restaurants, hospitals and schools across the UK to enhance their vegetarian and vegan offerings.
Sam Linford-Platt, head of the Vegetarian Society Cookery School, added: “It’s great to hear about how the training has made a real difference to St Johns and that they’ve already been able to implement new activity in their menu planning and catering.
“For any school catering team who want to increase their vegetarian and vegan options and are not sure where to start, we can show you how to deliver suitable vegetarian and vegan options with our School Catering Training. We work with schools and councils across the country, teaching catering staff how to make sustainable plant-based food.”
“As part of the training, we will provide you with a full year’s (three terms) worth of recipe packs, costed for school budgets. These meals have been created by award-winning school chefs, Tony Mulgrew and Lyndon McLeod, and are designed for bulk cooking in canteens. Plus, they’re carbon-calculated, so your school can show it’s doing its bit for the planet too.”