Kids in the kitchen at the Royal Melbourne Show

The Winning Tastes Pavilion at the Royal Melbourne Show was buzzing with the excitement last week, as the Kitchen Garden Foundation team held a round of kid’s cooking workshops using award-winning produce.

The three workshops – on 21, 22 and 24 September – were held on the Winning Tastes Stage in the pavilion (well-known as the home of Masterchef!)

Each session saw a packed crowd taking part in fun, interactive workshops that shared the philosophy of the Kitchen Garden Program, as well as featuring the themed produce of the day.

On 21 September it was lamb, so the recipe was Chargrilled Middle Eastern Lamb Burgers with Carrot & Coriander Salad.

Weeden Heights Primary School Kitchen & Garden Specialist Betty Vassiliou and the Foundation’s Josie Charles demonstrated the recipe on stage, with the help of enthusiastic children who were chosen from the crowd.

Children were also set up with tables where they could help with preparing the burgers: pounding spices in a mortar and pestle, picking herbs, grating carrots, separating pita breads, juicing lemons and mixing the ingredients for the burger patties.

At the end of the session all the children got to taste the result of their hard work, resulting in lots of happy faces and lots of ‘Yum!’

On 22 September the star ingredient was cheese, so the recipe for the day was a Silverbeet, Leek & Feta Slice.

Another packed crowd of children got hands on – cracking eggs, sifting flour, chopping silverbeet and grating feta.

On 24 September it was all about beef, so the dish was Shanghai Noodles with Sliced Beef & Garlic Chives.

Children from another full crowd joined Betty and Josie on the stage to help marinate the beef and prepare the ingredients. There were lots of big smiles in the crowd at the end of another successful demonstration.

The Kitchen Garden Foundation team had a great time being part of the vibrant world of the Royal Melbourne Show!

Thanks to everyone who took part in the cooking demonstrations and to Winters Flat Primary Kitchen Specialist Jane Grylls, Etta Curry and Jacelyn Hawkins from Flock Agency and the fantastic Royal Melbourne Show volunteers for all their hard work in helping us hold the workshops!

Looking for more recipes? Then click here and scroll down our homepage, where you will also find plenty of other pleasurable food education resources. Become a Kitchen Garden Classroom member to access them all!