Wahaca serves up a ‘school lunch’ for grown-ups as england prepares for a new era of school food
As the national conversation around the future of school food gathers pace this month, Mexican-inspired restaurant Wahaca is taking the classic school lunch tray as inspiration to create a new special launching in support of Chefs In Schools. Created to celebrate the work that the charity does to transform food culture in schools and ensure every child has access to delicious, nutritious meals, the new Good Lunch special will be served up at Wahaca restaurants nationwide from 16th September.
The Good Lunch is a new limited-edition lunchtime special inspired by the all-in-one trays found in school dining halls – only this one comes laden with tacos, chipotle meatballs and guacamole with tortilla chips. Available between 12pm and 4pm at Wahaca until 14th October, the £19.95 tray has been created to evoke the delicious and nutritious possibilities of the ultimate school lunch.
Diners can choose between guacamole or butter bean & confit garlic dip to enjoy with tortilla chips alongside two tacos from a choice of fillings and Wahaca’s new chipotle meatballs, with a slice of rich chocolate mole cake and pouring cream served together with the savoury dishes – because, just like in the school canteen, everything is served all at once.
The launch comes in response to a pivotal moment for school food in England. The Government has today published the first update to School Food Standards in over ten years, to bring catering in schools across England in line with the latest nutritional guidance. Also this month, free school meals are being extended to all households in receipt of Universal Credit – making 500,000 more children eligible and marking the biggest expansion of the scheme in years.
For every Good Lunch sold, there will be a 50p donation made to Chefs in Schools, the charity of which Wahaca’s co-founder Thomasina Miers is also co-founder and trustee, working regularly with schools and their kitchen teams to transform food culture and help children access delicious, nutritious meals.
Thomasina Miers said: “A great lunch should be something to look forward to, whatever your age and whether you’re at school, at home, at work – or dining out. The Good Lunch is our playful take on the classic school lunch tray, helping to shine a light on something that’s so important – that every child deserves to have good food at school – and that it benefits the whole of society when they do. I’ve seen first-hand the incredible difference that brilliant school food can make, and I’m hugely proud that Wahaca can support the work of Chefs in Schools through this very special new dish.”
Nicole Pisani, Chefs in Schools’ Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder said: “Food has the power to change everything – how children feel, how they learn, how they see the world. I’ve spent my career in some of London’s most exciting kitchens, and I can tell you that the most creative, joyful cooking I’ve ever seen is happening in school kitchens up and down this country, with chefs doing extraordinary things on a shoestring. What Wahaca are doing with The Good Lunch is shining a light on that – saying school food matters, it can be delicious, and it deserves to be taken seriously. This is a once in a generation moment and we couldn’t be more grateful to have Wahaca standing alongside us.”
