MOBBED BY CROWDS: Jamie Oliver at Jamie’s Ministry of Food Ipswich cooking class. Picture: Jamie Hanson Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

 JAMIE Oliver is bringing his ‘pukka tucker’ to the Gold Coast with the help of the Newman Government.

The British celebrity chef’s healthy cooking franchise, Jamie’s Ministry of Food, will run a mobile kitchen at Nerang and Oxenford in the New Year.

It will run weekly cooking classes teaching locals how to prepare healthy, nutritious and tasty meals.

Australia’s first Jamie’s Ministry of Food opened at Ipswich last year and Oliver made a personal appearance during this year’s state election campaign, with then-premier Anna Bligh pledging to give Queenslanders free healthy cooking classes.

It seems her successor Campbell Newman has taken a generous pinch of her policy – the State Government is backing the Gold Coast cooking classes in partnership with the Gold Coast City Council and retailer The Good Guys.

Queensland’s chief health officer, Dr Jeanette Young, said the mobile kitchen would help Gold Coasters make healthier eating choices.

“Only 7.4 per cent of adults consume the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables each day,” Dr Young said.

“Programs like this can help Queenslanders get in the habit of cooking more nutritious food with simple produce instead of buying takeaway.”

About 240 Gold Coast residents are expected to take part in the 11-week Ministry of Food course, which starts on January 11 and covers healthy meal planning, budgeting, shopping tips and nutritional advice.

It is not known whether Oliver himself will come to the Glitter Strip to wield the wooden spoon.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/jamies-ministry-of-food-to-run-mobile-kitchen-at-nerang-and-oxenford-gold-coast/story-e6freoof-1226524898673