Cooking 4 Kids Beaconsfield
Tucked behind Revival Cafe in the heat of Beaconsfield is the lovely Cooking 4 Kids studio. Owned and operated by Chef Meg White, Cooking 4 Kids aims to encourage, equip and inspire children to master some pretty impressive cooking skills. Eat My Street was invited along for a visit to check out how the classes run and to take a look around the Cooking 4 Kids studio.
We arrived bright and early on a Saturday morning to take part in the first class of the day. The class started with the min-chefs (kids) standing around the preparation table learning about what they would be cooking for the day and running through a few house rules. Students then got down to preparing and cooking their spinach and pumpkin pot pie. How happy do they look!?
After a little bit of time spent doing dishes and learning the importance of cleaning up after themselves, the students sit down with Meg at the communal table to learn all about what they have made. Meg has a great focus on understanding where food comes from and the health benefits of different ingredients and she shared all this information in a fun and interactive way.
I really loved taking a snoop around at some of the worksheets students had filled in.
I may have even learnt a couple of things about doughnuts. 🙁
Meg does a great job teaching the students and sharing her passion for nutrition, home made food. It was wonderful to see the way the kids were so enthusiastic about learning and cooking and how easily they picked up on these skills in the kitchen.
Meg is a natural in the kitchen and had her little group of chefs diligently paying attention and on task for the whole morning.
I was so impressed with how capable these students were and the end result of their labours looked and tasted delicious. What a great age for children to learn about where our food comes from, what is in and how to prepare and cook it; all essential life long skills.
Meg is a qualified chef with 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry- although she looks too young for this to be true! We asked her a few questions to find out a little bit more about why she started Cooking 4 Kids.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in your business?
From the age of four I knew I wanted to be a chef! At 14 I started my first part time job at a local restaurant and, I completely fell in love with all that hospitality had to offer. Upon leaving school, I deferred uni for a year to work… I never made it to uni!
I found a love for teaching children when I was living in Geelong, I volunteered at a local primary school through the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. Cooking is something that all children can master, seeing the joy, confidence & self pride that they gain through being in the kitchen is incredibly rewarding.
I went form Geelong to Melbourne, where I worked as a head chef, before deciding to through caution to the wind & follow my passion for teaching kids. Whilst its been challenging a times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world… It’s by far the best & most rewarding chocice I’ve made. I’m grateful to all of the kids, families & friends of Cooking 4 Kids for allowing me into their lives & for believing in what I do.
2. What is your favourite recipe at the moment?
Autumn brings around foraging for mushrooms… I love them pan seared with butter, garlic & fresh thyme… perched upon a piece of chargrilled olive sourdough, drizzled with truffle oil & shaved pecorino.
3. Kitchen staples? Things you always have in your fridge and pantry?
Good quality olive oil, Mount Zero Olives being my favourite.
Fresh free range eggs from Seven acres farm.
Fresh herbs, an easy healthy way to add additional flavor to any meal.
Pink lake salt from Mount Zero Olives.
Plus loads of fresh fruit & vegetables.
4. Do you have a secret foodie vice?
Hot potato chips, though these days its more Kipfler potatoes… boiled, rubbed with coconut oil, then roasted until their skins are golden & crispy.
5. What was your most memorable meal?
Eaten about 14 years ago when visiting Adelaide… Pan seared potato & pumpkin gnocchi with burnt butter & sage… so simple, so tasty. (Sounds amazing!)
6. Can you tell us your favourite local restaurant or cafe?
I’ve taken a real liking to Spencer’s store in Gembrook. I love brunch. As a vegetarian it’s nice to be able to go out & have options.
8. Where do you get your inspiration for recipe ideas? Any favourite cook books, blogs, TV shows, chefs etc?
I love humble, home made, slow cooked food, this comes back to my grandparents. I spent a lot of time cooking with them as a child. Today I use a lot of their recipes as a base, adding new modern twists to make them more relevant today.
For more information and to see her upcoming classes take a look at Meg’s website.
or keep up to date by liking her Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/Cooking4KidsAu
Address: 3/24-26 Woods St, Beaconsfield VIC 3807
Phone:0455 552 000
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