Specialty grocer Macknade is joining forces with the KM Charity Team to provide a day of free foodie fun in a bid to uncover the region’s best young kitchen talent.

Children of primary school age will be able to take part in pizza and salad-making sessions, as well as activities focussing on issues such as food waste and healthy eating.

Macknade and the KM Charity Team hope the event will inspire participants to enter Masterchef-style kitchen contest Young Cooks.

It takes place at The Deck, the outdoor dining facilities at Macknade’s food hall on Selling Road in Faversham, between 10am and 3pm on Tuesday, August 20.

Macknade’s team of experts will be joined at the event by foodie partners including Mighty Fine Things and sustainability specialist Wasted Kitchen.

Young Cooks coordinator Hannah Hawksworth said: “This sounds like such a lovely event, and seems a great way to keep children and parents entertained over the long summer holiday.

“What’s even better is that it’s entirely free.

“Hopefully, the children taking part will come away with the skills, confidence and ideas to make healthy, delicious and nutritious meals at home and for Young Cooks.”

Young Cooks is open to children aged 6 to 19 from across the south east.

Children and families are invited to submit recipe ideas, with shortlisted finalists being invited to cook their recipes for a VIP panel at a live Masterchef-style event in November.

The final deadline for submitting entries is November 7, and the winners will share £500 in prize money, with separate primary-school, family, secondary-school and overall prizes being handed out.

Apart from Macknade, Young Cooks is supported by Principals by CH & Co Group, SE Medical, Chequers Kitchen, Broadstairs College, Brakes, Golding Homes, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Southern Co-operative, Kent Catering Services, The Dog at Wingham, Whole School Meals and Taylor Meats.

Find out more about Young Cooks at Youngcooks.org.uk, and more information about the food day is available at macknade.com.

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