It’s ten to seven on a Tuesday night and a buzzing crowd of passionate foodies are merging into the The Regent Theatre on Collins St. Melbourne. From the well heeled and coiffed, to bright eyed boys and grand dames with a firm grip on their handbag: we are all here to see one man. Jamie Oliver. Taken to the bronzed Aussie bosom like a sausage on shit white bread in summer.
There is something bullish and distinctly childlike about the way Oliver charges ahead (funky sneakered foot in mouth). He’s just getting on with the job of mustering some enthusiasm for the simple joy of cooking. There aren’t many celebrity chefs visiting our shores that can joke about having illegitimate Aussie progeny. Nor cut down a journalist for suggesting he was smuggling a few extra kilos since his last visit. But that blanket brashness, and the desire to get his hands dirty with some unsavoury political health issues, seems to have given Oliver public immunity. “Say what you like, you barmy Brit, we’ll have another serve of the Jamie Oliver special. With a solution to the obesity epidemic on the side.”
“The Wheeler Centre” is renowned for hosting ‘smart talks from passionate people’. The grand theatricality of The Regent was a fine venue in which to house Oliver’s unabashed enthusiasm for making a difference to the quality of people’s lives. With obesity related mortality rates rising there has never been a better time for a national kick up the clacker about nutrition. The Australian Government has been blessed with a celebrity chef, with big ideas and a passionate plea that has the potential to win the hearts and minds of a junk food generation and their cash strapped parents.
Ecstatic with the Victorian Government’s monetary support of “The Good Foundation”, Oliver said it was inspiring to finally engage in long term, practical solutions. Electrical bargain kings “The Good Guys” were the first to get behind Oliver’s Aussie version of “The Ministry of Food”. Openly challenging the policy makers to match their financial contribution. With the first centre in Ipswitch recently opening and another planned for Geelong, it seems that big business with a conscience can loosen government purse strings.
Officially launched in 2010, “The Good Foundation” aims to improve nutrition through food centres that run ten week cooking programs. Hoping to be as inclusive as possible, regardless of age, race or gender, programs run from $10 a session and culminate in cooking a celebratory roast dinner. There is also talk of mobile kitchens: taking the word of healthy, home cooking to the streets.
After an hour of foodie empowerment, I crashed like a six year old on sugar after overhearing a conversation sprinkled with cynicism. “Well,” a woman muttered to her companion, “he’s preaching to the converted, isn’t he?” Gazing around the theatre, there was definitely a distinct lack of obese, unhealthy looking individuals likely to give their children an “energy” drink for breakfast. Yes, here we are, the shiny people, nutritionally advanced and able to name five exotic veg in five seconds. Yet, in the words of a man who wants to nurture sick nations one home cooked meal at a time, “The Ministry of Food is kind of a metaphor … for everyone giving a shit.” Now there’s something we could increase to five serves a day.
Words by Lauren Cruickshank, purveyor of tasty textual morsels.
Photo from The Good Foundation
