MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Luke Emmess visits Wicor School in Portchester
A Masterchef finalist helped primary school children cook in their school’s outdoor kitchen
Primary school children were given an expert helping hand in their outdoor kitchen when a MasterChef contestant came to visit.
Luke Emmess is the chef at the highly rated Wykeham Arms in Winchester. Born in Portsmouth and brought up in Leigh Park, he has worked around the area for years, including at the Still and West in Old Portsmouth. He reached the final of Masterchef: The Professionals this year.
Luke went to Wicor Primary School in Portchester for a food education session, which was organised by the county food group Hampshire Fare, which aimed to educate children about where food comes from.
Pupils prepared dishes using ingredients from the school’s allotment and kitchen garden, supported by Hampshire Fare’s network of local producers.
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Luke said: “It was a real privilege to cook with the children at Wicor for the first time. Working outdoors in their kitchen garden made the experience really special. Cooking with food they’ve grown themselves is incredibly powerful — you can see how quickly it connects for them.”
The visit forms part of Hampshire Fare’s long-standing relationship with Wicor Primary School, which has supported food growing, sustainability and food education for over a decade.
A school spokesperson said: “Food growing and cooking are central to our curriculum. Working with Hampshire Fare and local producers gives our pupils meaningful, hands-on experiences that bring learning to life.”
Hampshire Fare Commercial Manager Natasha Dochniak said: “Wicor is an incredible example of what sustained food education can achieve over time. This isn’t a one-off activity, it’s embedded into the life of the school. When children grow food, cook it and eat seasonally, their relationship with food changes completely. It becomes real to them, and that understanding stays with them.”
Wicor Primary School has developed a strong reputation for food growing and environmental learning, with orchards, allotments and beehives embedded into everyday school life.
Hampshire Fare is celebrating 35 years of championing local food, drink and craft across the county this year.