A conscious culinary collaboration between Si Ri Panya International School and Orion’s award winning cafe delighted and inspired the palates of pupils on Koh Phangan when a new vegan meal was launched on the school’s lunch menu last week.
Guest chef Sandeep attended to help cook an exciting new dish, chosen by students themselves from the restaurant’s nutritious cruelty-free menu.
The homemade falafel and hummus wraps, served with pesto and fresh salad, were tasted by all the children in the school with many children requesting and eating second helpings proving the lunch to be a winner. ‘Delicious and good!’ confirmed the boys in year six.
‘So yummy!’ said Arbel in year one. Students in year five also gave rave reviews; ‘I could eat a million and one of these…my tastebuds are dancing!’ stated Iggy and Ronja.
As a school where children’s voices are valued and listened to, prior to the launch, children were involved in the decision-making process by taste-testing a selection of dishes from Orion’s tantalizing and healthy menu and voted for their favorite. Si Ri Panya’s dedicated kitchen team undertook specialist training in Orion’s kitchen to perfect the skills required to make the most favoured winning dish.
The simple menu alteration of just one dish to vegan will enable all students a chance to eat the same thing together at least once a week. ‘It’s not just about the food, it’s about the children with different diets being able to share the same meal together,’ said school founder Nicola Bunchuay. ‘Facilitating positive experiences, friendships and community within our school is integral to our ethos.’
Orion is well-known for its quality, organic ingredients, without dairy, eggs, refined sugars, preservatives, pesticides, GMOs, MSG or palm oil. Children experienced for themselves how supporting the environment, making healthy and sustainable choices can be fun and delicious.
‘We encourage our children to have a healthy balanced diet and to try new things. Over eighty percent of students liked the falafel today so today’s been a great success,’ said Headteacher Gabriella Zielinska.
Si Ri Panya will continue to cater for omnivores and vegetarians alike, celebrating the diversity of nationalities in their student cohort as the school endeavou=rs to work together with parents and children to provide a balanced holistic, healthy and happy education. ‘Every individual deserves to feel a sense of belonging, here it’s like one big family.’ Teacher Faye Reading.
The school is currently conducting school tours by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday at 10am. For more information about registration or to book a tour, please email the school office at admissions@siripanya.com.