Homegrown Chef | Purple Chicken participant Hannah Clarke relishes her role in the kitchen
JUST weeks into joining the Purple Chicken team in Albury, Hannah Clarke is already starting to map out her future.
With a passion for cooking and growing produce, Hannah wants to develop a microbusiness for her fresh herbs.
She also hopes to gain a job in the Border hospitality sector.
"I'm happy when I'm cooking," she said.
"All of my garden produce is fresh and organic and grown with no chemicals."
Thurgoona-based Hannah, who often hosted dinner parties for family and friends, joined the social enterprise, Purple Chicken, earlier this year.
Purple Chicken's cafe program, which is aimed at NDIS-funded participants aged between 15 and 30, offers learning and work experience in a commercial kitchen.
Purple Chicken senior team leader Tracey Kellock said Hannah was a certified foodie and a natural in the kitchen.
"She's got excellent knife skills, she has a natural talent for understanding flavours and she knows what pairs well with what," she said.
Purple Chicken founder Jen Tait said Hannah had gone ahead in leaps and bounds.
She said the program was running at capacity of 20.
"We want to develop a microbusiness for Hannah but it will require a greenhouse," she said.
Purple Chicken participants have been busy in the kitchen ahead of their fire fundraiser cake stall in Albury on Sunday.
They will offer everything from liquorice allsorts slice to lemon cakes.
All proceeds will go to West Wodonga CFA, Jindera RFS and a local native animal rescue group.
The sweet offerings will be available at the City Central Church at 445 David Street from 11.30am to 1.30pm.
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What is your favourite dish, Hannah?
Blackberry ice cream pudding
What is your favourite season?
Vegetable Season! (summer, autumn and spring)
What are the staples in your cooking?
Garlic, shallots, onions; anything from the onion family. Chicken.
What is your earliest cooking memory?
I used to help Mum a lot in the kitchen, making biscuits and cakes. My family is Dutch.
Which ingredients do you grow yourself?
Zucchinis, tomatoes, eggplant, pumpkin, silverbeet, chillies, beans, squash, potatoes, garlic, herbs like oregano and sage.
Name six people you'd invite to a dinner party.
Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Gordon Ramsay, Paul West, Justine Schofield and Tracey Kellock.
What is a favourite foodie ritual?
I like going to markets at Yarrawonga and in Albury for fresh produce. I went to the Border Food Forum this month.
What are you bingeing on TV? If anything.
Nothing. I am mostly working in the garden.
What did you have for dinner last night?
My mum's Moussaka
What are you drinking at the moment?
Moscato
Details:
Purple Chicken,
445 David Street, Albury
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