Last week, ten incredibly talented young chefs from Seaside Primary School visited the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne for an unforgettable hands-on cooking experience. The children, all winners of our Healthy Packed Lunches Competition, got to bring their creative lunch designs to life in a real professional kitchen.
The day began with excited chatter as the children arrived at the hotel, many of them visiting a professional kitchen for the very first time. Chef Hrvoje welcomed them with big smiles and chef’s hats, setting the tone for what would become a truly memorable experience.
“Seeing their faces light up when they put on their chef’s hats was absolutely priceless. These children showed such creativity and enthusiasm – they’re natural-born hospitality professionals!”
– Chef Hrvoje Lončarević
From Drawings to Delicious Reality
Each child had previously designed their ideal healthy packed lunch as part of the competition. The winning designs showcased incredible creativity – from rainbow vegetable wraps to protein-packed pasta salads, each lunch was as colourful as it was nutritious.
Working alongside Chef Hrvoje and his team, the children learned proper knife skills (with safety knives, of course!), discovered how to balance flavours, and picked up tips on presenting food beautifully. The kitchen buzzed with energy as they chopped, mixed, and assembled their creations.
Beyond the Kitchen
After the cooking workshop, the children and their families enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel. From the elegant reception area to the housekeeping department, they discovered the many different roles that keep a hotel running smoothly.
“I didn’t know there were so many jobs in a hotel!” exclaimed one young participant. “I thought it was just the people at the desk, but there’s loads of different things you can do!”
This is exactly the kind of insight HPLC Consultancy aims to provide. By exposing children to the breadth of career opportunities in hospitality, we hope to inspire the next generation of industry professionals.
What Parents Said
The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents reported that their children came home buzzing with excitement and, more importantly, with a newfound interest in healthy eating and cooking.
“My daughter has been helping me prepare dinner every night since the workshop. She keeps telling me about the importance of having different colours on the plate!”
– Parent of competition winner
Thank You to Our Partners
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the Grand Hotel and the enthusiastic participation of Seaside Primary School. We’re also grateful to Dr Maria Gebbels and the University of Greenwich for their ongoing research support.
Interested in bringing HPLC to your school or hotel? Get in touch with us to find out how you can get involved.
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