Cooking - that's just kitten's play

Feb 3 2009 by Neil Preston, The Journal

YOUNG chefs were treated to a cooking master class with Celebrity Masterchef winner Liz McClarnon.

The ex-Atomic Kitten pop princess dropped into Newcastle College for the cook-off with dozens of students.

Pork was the theme of the session, as Liz chopped and stirred her way through a sizzling selection of meaty meals.

Cuts of belly pork in garlic sauce, spicy pork curry with butternut squash and crunchy crackling were all on the menu as the blonde bombshell wowed the audience with her skills.

And Liz, who had no experience of cooking before claiming the Masterchef title last year, also served up special porky tips for the BTEC and foundation degree students.

She said: “It’s all about the timing. That’s the main thing about pork. People think pork is not always juicy like lamb, but I’m here to show you that it can be like that.

“It’s true that before Masterchef I had no experience of cooking anything. So it just goes to show that anyone can learn these things.” Plate after plate of the tasty morsels were dished up as the pans sizzled and Liz told jokes about struggling to cook Sunday dinner for her father and her boyfriend. And the students, who are studying for qualifications at the college’s Chef’s Academy, said they never knew pork could be so exciting.

Roy Ng, 21, from Durham, who also works as assistant restaurant manager at the Marriott hotel, said: “Pork is one of my favourite meats anyway, but I didn’t know it could be that juicy. Liz was great at showing people how to cook.”

Dan Wayman, 18, from Alnwick, said: “Liz was a good teacher and funny as well, which made the whole thing a bit more interesting.”

Greg Ross, 19, from Walker, who is studying for an NVQ in professional cookery, added: “It was good to learn different ways to cook pork and especially the short ways.”

Course leader Angela Smith said: “It’s a fabulous experience, and really increased the students’ appreciation of pork.”