Pupils from a Kennington-based school, who will be selling their homemade winter soup this week at Borough Market, have been given the ultimate seal of approval from two esteemed food critics.
Last week, students at a secondary school in Kennington got some expert advice on the soup and bread they will sell at the Young Marketeers Winter Soup Sale at Borough Market.
Food critic, author and sustainability champion, Melissa Hemsley and columnist, chef and food writer Xanthe Clay went to Lilian Baylis Technology School in Kennington, to sample and judge some of the pupils’ recipes ahead of the big day.
Xanthe Clay, who has spent over twenty years as a chef and food writer, was impressed.
“The soups made by the students were all delicious,” she said.
“We had a tough time choosing a winning soup as so much had gone into each one, but the deep-flavoured, satisfying Caldo Verde was irresistible.
“What a fantastic initiative,” she added.
The annual sale will take place on Thursday (February 2) and will see four local schools selling their creations to the public, raising money for The Felix Project.
The other three schools taking part are Bacon’s College in Rotherhithe, The Charter School in East Dulwich and St Gabriel’s College in Lambeth.
Pupils taking part are taught how to make three tasty soups using seasonal vegetables, while the market’s popular bakers at Bread Ahead give the students a ciabatta breadmaking masterclass to serve alongside their soup.
Local school kids prepare for stint as traders at Borough Market
Every £1 raised on the day provides enough food for six tasty meals for vulnerable people across the capital.
The Winter Soup Sale is an annual event and forms part of the Young Marketeers Programme, now in its eleventh year. Run by School Food Matters and Borough Market, the programme teaches students about how to avoid food waste, eat seasonally and develop their cookery skills, as well as giving them the entrepreneurial skills to market and sell their goods.
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Food critic, author and sustainability champion Melissa Hemsley, said: “It’s so heart-warming to see young people learning about food. What I also love about this programme is that the children learn about food waste and food poverty through its connection with The Felix Project – an organisation I have been working with closely over the last four years.”
Stephanie Slater, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters, said: “We’re all about teaching children where their food comes from, how it grows and how to cook it. The programme gives students the chance to experience the wonderful joy of baking, cooking and experimenting with different flavours while honing their enterprise skills as they prepare for the big Sale Day.”
Over the years, £10,414 has been raised for FareShare and The Felix Project, providing 62,482 meals for vulnerable families.
The Winter Sale will take place between 12 pm -2 pm on Thursday, February 2, at Borough Market, 8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL.
Borough Market has also released a special guide to soup, packed with tips, tricks and recipes from the Market’s experts. The guide can be accessed here.
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