Chris Tanner opens high-tech cooking class room at Prep School
Published: 07 October, 2011
Budding chefs at Plymouth College Preparatory School will soon
be cooking up a feast thanks to the opening of a new Food
Technology Centre.
Designed in partnership with top chefs, the Tanner Brothers, the
state-of-the-art kitchen contains a series of child-sized cooking
stations. Each one is equipped with an oven and hob, large
work surface, sink and drawers filled with essential cooking
utensils. The adult-sized teacher's station is linked to a
webcam that feeds to screens around the room so that the children
can closely follow every detail of the teacher's cooking
demonstrations.
Located in the 'Round House', the specialist classroom has been
kitted out and decorated in the style of the Tanner Brothers'
leading Plymouth brasserie, Barbican Kitchen. Chris Tanner
was on hand to do the ribbon-cutting duties at the official
opening.
"We were asked several months ago if we would be interested
in becoming involved in the new food tech facility at Plymouth
College Prep School", said Chris. "Now, in such a short space
of time, a rundown disused building has been transformed into a
gastronomic temple! This is a fantastic addition to the
facilities and a perfect space to teach the children about
everything foodie! It can only ever be beneficial as they learn
about food, where it comes from and how important it is to
us all but most importantly, how to cook it."
Prep School Headmaster, Chris Gatherer, said: "This facility is
already popular with the children who are thoroughly enjoying their
cooking whilst at the same time developing valuable
life-skills. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to add
further to the wide curriculum already on offer at the school."
As well as thanking the Tanner Brothers for their inspiration
and support throughout the project, the Prep School's Chairman of
Governors, David Woodgate, also thanked the Bailey Partnership for
their role in the initial planning and design, and the Plymouth
College maintenance team, who undertook the conversion of the
former Naval Hospital building.