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'Food touches life'

Michelin starred chef and star of BBC's The Restaurant, Raymond Blanc OBE, is coming to the Blue School in Wells to see its new catering training kitchen.

As he's helped to develop a whole host of top chefs in his kitchen - people like Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumethal - it is hoped he can have the same impact in Wells.

"Good food touch every part of our life; it touch the type of society we are creating, it touches our health, our environment, ok. It touches of course the health side of it is the most important one, and I think there's much to be done here."

He said it was really exciting as there's many good initiatives happening. 

"Just enjoy what you're doing. And food is the most incredible, creative thing. [You take] elements from the earth, from the air, from the rivers, and you apply fire to cook them to create the most beautiful food.

"And then you give it to your loved ones, your friends. Food is the most creative form of enjoyment."

Ruined palette

Raymond, who is no stranger to Somerset as his son attended Millfield School, has also encouraged people to get to know their local farmers and to go to 'pick your own' places with their families as an enjoyable day out.  

The centre is part of the FEAST (Food Excellence and Skills Training) project which has seen other top chefs including Jamie Oliver get involved with improving food standards at schools.

The centre will offer a range of NVQ qualifications in catering and hospitality, including apprenticeships and Train to Gain programmes. 

"It's so important for kids, ok, of course, to have good food, especially in the formative years. If your palette and taste are used to a sweet, or a fatty food, which is full of nasty colouring and flavouring agent then mostly your palette will be ruined but mostly your health will be in a state," said Raymond. 

He then went on to say that cooking a good meal doesn't have to be expensive and that cooking for your family is an act of love.