Around 200 students swapped notebooks for aprons as Los Verodes School hosted the third edition of its popular MiniChef Day, an event that has become one of the highlights of the school calendar.
This year’s theme focused on local produce and traditional Canarian cuisine, giving pupils the chance to discover the island’s culinary heritage while creating their own dishes.
A School Transformed into a Guachinche
For the occasion, the school was transformed into a traditional Canarian guachinche, complete with:
🪵 Wooden tables and chairs
🧺 Traditional decorations made from palm materials
🍷 Barrels and wine-themed displays
👒 Young chefs dressed in aprons, gloves and personalised chef hats
The result was a festive atmosphere celebrating both food and local culture ahead of Día de Canarias.
A Menu Full of Canarian Flavours
Students from different age groups prepared a variety of dishes inspired by Tenerife’s gastronomy.
Among the creations were:
🥔 Papas con mojo
🍯 Gofio balls with honey and raisins
🌮 Pulled beef tacos with crispy onion and avocado gel
🍣 Sushi creations prepared by older pupils
🥪 Brioche with roasted pork and tomato jam
🐟 Tuna with mojo sauce
🍔 Mini burgers with smoked cheese and red mojo mayonnaise
The youngest pupils focused on simpler recipes, while primary school students took on increasingly ambitious dishes.
Learning Through Food
The initiative was launched in 2023 by chef Samuel Hernández, from Grupo Zoco, with the aim of helping children develop healthy relationships with food through hands-on experiences.
“We want children to see food as something fun, not just a necessity,” was the philosophy behind the project.
Throughout the workshops, students experimented with ingredients, textures and flavours while learning about local products and cooking techniques.
Guided by Industry Professionals
Each class was supported by a guest mentor from Tenerife’s food industry.
Among the professionals taking part were local chefs and hospitality experts who helped guide the students through their recipes and shared real-world culinary experience.
A Competition Where Everyone Wins
At the end of the day, the dishes were evaluated by a jury made up of chefs and members of the school community.
Awards were presented in categories including:
🏆 Tastiest Dish
🏆 Most Canarian Dish
🏆 Most Creative Dish
Meanwhile, parents had the opportunity to sample the food prepared by their children and make donations towards the sixth-year end-of-school trip.
Good food, local traditions and 200 enthusiastic young chefs.
Not a bad recipe for success.