We are so excited to be launching our new School Lunch program in 2023 for students. Can you imagine not having to pack school lunches every day and knowing your child has the opportunity to eat fresh and nutritious food whilst at school - a dream come true for both students and parents!

Our new Chef and Canteen Manager, Andrea and Cafe Assistant Bridget commenced their roles at JPII last week and have been begun cooking up a sensational 'planning and preparation' storm ahead of next years opening. We can already smell the fresh pasta sauce bubbling away out of their planning papers down the hallway!

We thought it would be the perfect time to share what inspired Andrea and Bridget to the new JPII canteen to prepare, cook and serve up approximately 200+ meals daily to our very hungry and sometimes fussy eating students!

Introducing Andrea, Canteen Manager/Chef

& Bridget, Cafe Assistant

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Favourite way to spend a day off or on the weekend?

Andrea: My favourite way to spend the weekend is having a proper and relaxed breakfast, taking care of my veggie patch, riding the bicycle with my son and wife and enjoying the beauty of Tasmania.

Bridget: For me weekends are for family. I have two very active children who both have sporting commitments on a Saturday morning but after that we like to spend as much time as we can outdoors. The beach is a definite favourite in the warmer months, especially if it involves a kayak or stand up paddle board.

What drew and/or inspired you to come to work at JPII?

Andrea: I just started to work at JPII a week ago and I have to say that I'm very happy to be surrounded by happy kids and friendly colleagues.

Bridget: JPII is very inclusive of everybody and I love seeing all the opportunities provided. Everybody has always been so friendly and welcoming, who wouldn’t

want to work at a place like that! The hours of work are also very family friendly so

that’s a big plus.

What is your favourite dish to cook at home or to share with friends?

Andrea: I'm a Lasagna Master as I learned from my grandmother how to wind the pasta machine and build this amazing dish full of flavours and history.

Bridget: I really enjoy making pasta dishes, one of our favourites would have to be creamy chicken and mushroom pasta.

What is the #1 item you cannot live without in your kitchen?

Andrea: In my kitchen I will always have a rolling pin ready for any battle!

Bridget: Sharp knives, nothing better than a sharp knife.

What kind of lunch options might appear on the school menu - will there be desserts!

Andrea: Together we are planning to create an amazing and unique gourmet canteen where the kids can experience all sorts of different food and flavours from different parts of the world! We will certainly have dessert and plenty of fresh fruit!

Now for the question on everyone's lips (ha ha).... is it an urban myth that you should not open the oven door while baking a cake?

Andrea: Remember to never open the oven door when Mum is baking otherwise you will eat an amazing flat cake!

Bridget: Step away from the oven door! If you open the oven door during the first half to three quarters of the cooking time you may very well end up with a flat cake. The rush of cold air from the door opening can stop the cake from rising.

What is your hope/aim for our new school lunch program for our students

and school?

Andrea: My aim for the lunch program is to feed you with a great variety of delicious food, provide you with new knowledge about where the ingredients come from by planning a veggie patch in the school and see your happy face after lunch!!!

Bridget: I hope to be able to be part of a fantastic program that not only provides good food options but also helps to educate both children and the wider community about where their food comes from and how to prepare it. There is already such a strong sense of community here at JPII and to be able to add to that and create even stronger ties would be amazing.

Favourite thing about being a chef?

Andrea: The best thing about being a chef is that I have the power to transform a bag

of flour into a yummy cake and also to see all my customers happy after eating my yummy dinner!

Any last word before the school bell goes?

Andrea: I can't wait to see you all sitting together at the table, eating, laughing and enjoying your lunch break with us!

Bridget: I am really excited to be part of this program and cannot wait until we can really get going and see it take off. I know my children cannot wait for it to start!

Thank you Andrea and Bridget. Welcome to the JPII team!

Prayer

Light the Advent Candle