Two of Scotland’s finest chefs have created mouthwatering vegan recipes for students staying in University accommodation. The nutritious meal suggestions – devised by Michelin-starred Martin Wishart and Tom Kitchin – are part of a range of recipe cards to be included in food packages for students if they are self-isolating in halls. The Edinburgh-born chefs have developed their recipes with student kitchens in mind. Each uses a variety of high-quality, fresh vegetables and herbs, and take less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook. Warming meals Tom Kitchin – chef and owner of award-winning restaurants The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, Southside Scran and The Bonnie Badger – began the project by creating a fragrant tofu and noodle broth. While Edinburgh chef Martin Wishart – proprietor of the award-winning Restaurant Martin Wishart – has prepared a colourful vegan box with stir-fried vegetables and chilli noodles. Much-loved local eateries, Bross Bagels and Civerinos Slice, have also created vibrant meal suggestions for the students to enjoy. “This is a really brilliant initiative by University of Edinburgh and I am delighted to support it. We all know that eating well and planning a good meal start with the use of good ingredients. With a little bit of imagination and some cooking tips along the way, some students might discover a love for cooking. I’m excited to see what dishes the students will come up with and what new ideas are coming our way.” - Tom Kitchin, Chef Watch: Tom Kitchin create his recipe for University students 24-hour support The recipe cards are the latest addition to the package of support students receive if they are required to self-isolate in University accommodation due to Covid-19 restrictions. University chefs have also created recipes, which include jackfruit casserole, chilli bean ragu and smoked mackerel fillets with potatoes. University staff are working 24-hours a day to ensure that students receive a balanced diet, with self-isolation packs consisting of three meals a day to students in catered halls as well as up to 800 grocery boxes per week for those in self-catered. Essential items are also being delivered on request. While the number of students required to self-isolate varies, staff have delivered up to 2,400 packed meals per day to students in catered halls and more than 800 grocery boxes per week to those in self-catered across 48 different locations. Mental health Round-the-clock care is also on hand to ensure that students can speak with someone either on the phone or in person if they have any worries or concerns. As well as counselling and online support services, the University has almost 200 Residence Assistants and Wardens on site to support students. “We are thrilled to provide students with these fantastic recipe ideas and work with local businesses. Tom and Martin are renowned for championing fresh Scottish produce, and Bross Bagels and Civerinos Slice are really popular, so we are sure this will be a hit with our students. This year has been tough on all of us, but I am so proud of what we have achieved, and hope that this will give our students a boost and encourage them to showcase their creative flair.” - Carina Svensen, Director of Accommodation, Catering and Events at the University of Edinburgh This article was published on 2023-11-08
