Chef Trainer Adam’s
Christmas Dinner Tips
Tips for a cracking school Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner is a big deal, especially in schools where it’s often the highlight of the season for so many children. We asked Chef Trainer, Adam Bernstein, for practical ways to elevate your school Christmas dinner while keeping things efficient in the kitchen:
- Next-level roasties
Crispy potatoes are a Christmas dinner essential! If you’ve got a combi oven, steam the potatoes well to fluff them up, before then roasting them to get those crispy edges.
- Forget the soggy sprouts!
Transform the humble sprout into a crowd-pleaser. Whisk some miso in some warm water to dissolve and distribute it better, then toss the sprouts in the miso mixture, oil, and a bit of seasoning. Roast until caramelised and full of umami goodness. Steaming or boiling? Skip it—they deserve better! No space in the oven? Sauté them in the bratt pan for a quick and tasty alternative.
- Top turkey
Dry turkey? Not in your kitchen! If you have fridge space, brine your turkey joints overnight in a 5% brine (50g salt per litre of water). This trick keeps it moist and seasons the meat.
- Build the atmosphere with teachers
Christmas dinner is more than just a meal; it’s a moment to strengthen the school community. Encourage teachers to pitch in with service, freeing up kitchen hands for batch cooking and to create that ‘school family’ atmosphere. Teachers dining with students creates a sense of togetherness—and if you’re feeling brave you can put cranberry sauce on the tables for kids to help themselves!
- Vegan Christmas cake
A festive treat for everyone to enjoy. Here is our go-to delicious Vegan Christmas cake recipe:
BONUS TIP:
Staff Christmas Meal: A treat for the kitchen team too
Your kitchen team works tirelessly all year, so make their Christmas meal special. Bring in agency staff to help cover service, allowing your team to sit down and enjoy the meal they’ve prepared. Alternatively, could the SLT roll up their sleeves to serve and clean up? Sharing a meal together strengthens the staff community.
