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Previously to celebrate NSMW, the college had a retro day in 2023 followed by a street food theme in 2024 with Luke and Justin from Middleton Foods. Lileen Esler with two of her colleagues from Durham County Council came to see what our theme days are all about.

Ellen Crookes, the cook in charge of Mortimer Community College, said: “With secondary schools, theme days can be a little more difficult than with primary schools, so we choose one day a year during National School Meals Week to go all out and put a theme on our mains servery.

“This year, we welcomed Luke Stanesby and Laura Cook, two development chefs from Middleton Foods, who helped us come up with a great menu for the day. Luke and Laura then spent the day with us, cooking meals and serving students.”

The menu for the day was: 

• BBQ Pulled Chicken Burger on a homemade Hawaiian Bun with Baby Gem Lettuce and Coleslaw with a Remoulade Mayo, Boston BBQ Beans and Sausage Caboodle.
• A Spicy Bean Burger, all served with Smokey Potato Tiny Bites, Cheesy Potato Halves, Baby Corn Cobs, Garlic and Parmesan Broccoli, and Boston Beans.
• Apple and Ginger Crumble, Chocolate Cip Cookies, and Cowboy Shaped Shortbread.

Crookes added: “Our students thoroughly enjoyed it, and the school staff who came for lunch also commented on how lovely the food and atmosphere were.”