Residents 'pass it on' Jamie Oliver style » Communities » 24dash.com

A bumper turnout of around 100 people is expected at Allerton and Lower Grange Neighbourhood Forum this Wednesday where a Jamie Oliver style 'Pass it On' cook and eat session is on the agenda.

The celebrity TV chef visited Cafe West healthy living and community centre in Wanstead Crescent, Allerton, during the summer after being invited along by Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins who had met and cooked with Jamie in Rotherham.

Jamie did a "cook and bond" session with a dozen teenagers who had never met before and passed on a home-made pasta and fresh tomato sauce dish.

Since then most of the youngsters have passed on the dish to a friend or family and Cafe West manager Ann Wild and her daughter, Laura, 14, will be passing on the tasty and nutritious dish to Allerton and Lower Grange residents on Wednesday November 19 at 7pm.

Ann Wild, Centre Manager, said: "Cafe West is looking to grow its own food at the centre and have bought pots, pans, cookers and utensils since Jamie's visit in August and we hope people will come along to Cafe West on Wednesday, get involved and get cooking. Our ambition is to make good nutritious food readily available in the neighbourhood and we are grateful to Jamie for kickstarting this initiative - our challenge now is to make it happen."

Chris Slaven, Bradford Council's Streets Ahead Neighbourhood Manager for Allerton, said: "The neighbourhood forum has a theme of health and safety. People can come along and learn to cook a simple healthy dish, there will be an opportunity to have a 'personal health MOT' from professional health workers, the chance to see what happens if your chip pan catches fire, talk to the police and learn about the projects and programmes going on in the locality. Local councillors will be available to meet the public and discuss concerns.

"We are looking forward to a bumper crowd to this very exciting and interactive forum - everyone is welcome."

"Two copies of Jamie's new book will be given to the best chefs on the night and the first 10 people to bring in their old chip pan will get them swapped for a Streets Ahead umbrella."

Coun Kris Hopkins, said: "There are a lot of good healthy eating projects in the district, but a Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food would make a real difference to changing people's eating habits."

Bradford Council's Executive has agreed to look into setting up a Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food initiative in the district subject to funding being available.