A TEAM of strapping young Limerickmen were fit as a fiddle when they served up a freshly cooked meal to mentors, friends, family and relatives in the Kileely Court Family Community Centre. They were hosting a Come Dine With Us evening as part of their participation in a Men’s Health Programme. The last time they had invited along their families and friends to witness their talents was when they embarked on football training with the FAI.
Having become super fit, the lads, who range in age from 18 to just over 30, were eager to show another side to their talents and looking cool, calm and collected, they served up their family and friends, a meal they sourced, prepared and cooked themselves.
“The idea is to interest men to take part in the Men’s Health eight week programme which aims to build confidence and add new skills that could secure them employment – the programme includes football training with the FAI, first aid training with the Order of Malta, a cooking programme, various workshops including CV building, presentation skills, career guidance, interview skills etc,” Patricia Whelan of the Kileely Court Family Community Centre told the Limerick Post.
“It is our hope that the men will have a greater confidence in realising what is possible for them and a new interest in a wider variety of activities, including cookery skills, which they showed off to their invited guests at the Come Dine With Us experience,” says Sarah Butler who confided that the meal the lads cooked and served up included:
Mushroom soup and sticky-homemade barbecue ribs for starters, followed by either succulent slices of Fillet Pork served on a bed of apple and parsnip mashed potato, accompanied by fresh garlic and mushroom cream sauce or pan-fried chicken on a bed of Mediterranean vegetables, accompanied by hot pepper sauce. Dessert offered a choice of either chocolate mousse cake or fruit crumble served with custard and tea/coffee.
“The meal was delicious and the lads received lots of compliments – they can now go on to take other courses in the programme that will equip them to seek employment in front of house, hotel management, cookery etc and they will also have acquired knowledge about food values”.
Mayor of Limerick, Gerry McLoughlin with Chef Andy Williams in Kileely Court Family Centre, with Come Dine with Us’ participants
