The youngest members of the Margaret River community are known for their culinary skills, foodie knowledge and passion for fresh, local produce thanks largely to efforts made by local schools to bring nutrition and food education to the top of the class.
One local school will take another step into the world of cooking as they prepare to host a series of workshops at this year's WA Gourmet Escape.
Held at the Gourmet Village at Leeuwin Estate, The Little Kitchen presented by Rapids Landing Primary School will teach children - and mums and dads - about the importance of food and community. Each half-hour session will introduce children and their parents to the pleasures of growing and making their own food.
Rapids Landing principal Lisa Helenius said the school's foray into the village was a great relationship building exercise for the recently opened school.
"It's very much about giving back to the community, and our involvement will assist in creating more awareness about the school," Mrs Helenius said.
"This project has been strongly driven by our P&C, the parents and carers within the Rapids Landing school community are really active and supportive of events like this."
Mrs Helenius said the school looked for opportunities to connect with the wider community. "It is fantastic to have an opportunity to do something like this, we are a relatively young school but we are lucky to have a very passionate group of parents and community supporters who get behind us and the students."
The 30 minute workshops, which will be held across both Saturday and Sunday of the festival weekend, will focus on planting your own basil, with a take home pesto recipe for participants. Another workshop will teach participants to build their own vegetarian rice paper rolls.
Session times are Saturday November 16 and Sunday November 17 at 11.30am, 12.45pm, 2pm and 3.15pm.
Tickets ($10 per session) can be purchased at the Village or online at www.gourmetescape.com.au/events/the-little-kitchen/
Children 16 years and under receive free entry to the Village when accompanied by a paying adult.