Food with a Twist! Students want more
Catering expert Cucina has announced their latest range of spring menus including tasty treats such as Cucina Pot Noodle with vegetables and chip shop curry sauce and chocolate and beetroot brownies.
Cucina’s innovative approach to school meals has introduced further healthy meals in kitchens across the country, such as duck and rocket pizzas and focaccia containing hidden courgettes and carrots, blackcurrant crème brulee, feta and roasted vegetable paninis and Eton mess. Cucina has also introduced ‘Tub Grub’ at its 26 contracts, such as tubs of sundried tomato pasta, ginger and lemon grass pot noodles, and premium deli boxes including Italian Antipasti, Danish Smörgåsbord and English cheese ploughman’s. Cucina’s forward thinking does not stop with the food. Cucina maps the school curriculum, holding French and Italian days, where the pupils learn about different foods and cultures and kitchen staff are trained to discuss nutritional benefits with pupils and staff.
Award-winning Cucina chefs ensure that not only is food freshly prepared and exceeds nutritional guidelines, but the pupils also learn about different foods and are taught essential skills for life. Cucina is working with schools on ‘Cook It, Fit It’ courses which teach students how to cook for four weeks followed by four weeks of keep fit.
Cucina has also introduced a £1 bar to beat the credit crunch, where cheese and tomato tortillas and a range of pasties, made with cheese and fresh vegetables amongst other tasty treats are flying out!
Steve Quinn, Managing Director of Cucina, said:
“At Cucina we aim to set new benchmarks for Food Service and treat students as customers not kids. Cucina continuously strives to exceed Nutritional standards and guidelines and also designs menus for individual schools to meet their tastes and diets. By using our experience, we hide nutrition in all our dishes and in this way the customers eat what they want and at the same time get the nutrients their bodies need to improve performance in the classroom and on the sports field. We are pleased with the feedback from our new spring menus. We believe that our role is not only one of a food service provider, but a teacher too, hence we become intrinsically involved with each school teaching food technology, curriculum mapping our special days and generally getting involved with everyday school life. Cucina’s kitchen is a creative environment, which tempts children to eat as they would in an up-market bistro.”
Cucina has been shortlisted for a national contract catering award less than three years after it won its first contract.
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Notes to Editors
Cucina was founded by Steve Quinn, a food and support services professional with 26 years experience within the industry, working with international hotel groups such as Rank, Thistle, Hilton and Concorde (in France), as well as contract catering firms Sodexho (formerly Gardner Merchant) and the Compass Group. Steve works with a team of top chefs and professionals to ensure that his vision of great food is truly embraced and delivered. He has recently celebrated his 26 years in catering by signing his 26th contract last month.
What Clients say about Cucina:
Lynda Lorentzen, bursar for Southfield School for Girls Specialist College, said:
“Prior to Cucina’s involvement, less than 10 per cent of students and staff paid for school meals and most opted to bring in their own packed lunch which often included crisps and chocolate. Now more than 500 girls enjoy a cooked meal at lunch time”.
6th former Cassie Watts was one of the students on the selection panel for the new catering contract at Southfield School for Girls said: “I chose Cucina because when they made their presentation they spoke to us, not just to the adults. After all we’re their biggest customers, not the adults. And they have delivered exactly what they said they would. It’s the best decision we ever made.”
Steve Turner, Headmaster of Audenshaw School, said:
“Cucina give a more personal service than larger catering companies. Cucina are real ‘foodies’ who provide interesting menus and their theatre of food was the biggest seller to us. The food that Cucina produce is of an excellent quality. They use fresh, well sourced ingredients which are very well presented. I like the relationship that the chefs and ladies in the canteen now have when they serve the pupils – there is a good rapport. I am very impressed with my ability, as Headmaster, to have direct line communication with Steve Quinn. I like his hands on style. I feel I have more of an influence than when we used a multi-national company and if I have any issues they are dealt with straight away. There has been some very positive feedback from the pupils and also the staff. Cucina have not disappointed and have made a real impression. At present, I can’t fault Cucina. They have put in experienced chefs and maintained the high quality.”
Nicola Hazelwood, Bursar for Esher Church of England High School, said:
“Cucina’s approach is trendy and appeals to the students; it is not staid and traditional, but is vibrant and unique. Cucina have brightened up the service, with clear pricing and a modern, bright approach. It was Cucina’s whole approach to school catering that impressed us and is why we chose them. The students love the food. Our expectations for Cucina, which we are sure will be fulfilled, are that they will increase the student’s awareness of a range and variety of food and that Cucina will become integrated and part of the whole life of the school.”
For Cucina’s top recipes:
www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news/cucina/news/recipes-from-cucina
For more information on the Food Based Standards visit: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
Please view the website for press releases or photos which are available on request at www.marketingprojects.co.uk in Cucina’s press office.
Press Office: Marketing Projects Tel: 01244 330000
Jane Harrad-Roberts Mobile: 07785 395705
Phil Brotherhood Mobile: 07884 493370
info@marketingprojects.co.uk www.marketingprojects.co.uk
Client Contact: Cucina Restaurants Ltd Tel: 0845 3891320
Steve Quinn Email: steve@cucina.co.uk
Managing Director Website: www.cucina.co.uk
