A FOOD bank fine dining menu was served up by Swindon College students to mark the 10th birthday of a service that has saved hundreds of local families from going hungry.

Dishes created entirely from the contents of an average food parcel were used to highlight the work of the foodbank and savoured by members of the business community at a special lunch yesterday.

Chef lecturer Paul Kelly, whose advanced students produced the seven-course tasting menu for 40 people, said it had been a challenge.

“We opened up a few tins to experiment with. Things like tinned ham and mackerel.”

He said the main problem was how to add flavour. Macaroni cheese was turned into tiny mac and cheese balls, paprika and other spices were added to beans, which were then pureed,

The only cheats were some wild garlic gathered on the way in to college that day and a black pudding.

“I spend all year teaching them how to use the finest produce,” said the chef who used to be in the military. “This is like landing a field kitchen on them.”

But he was proud of their efforts.

“I think we have got some great dishes on the menu and I’m 100 per cent content with what we have produced.”

He thought the corned beef hash was the best thing on the menu. “It was a challenge. It gives up on you very easily and it was very hard to put flavour into it.”

However his young chefs worked their magic and even though forced to use tinned potatoes instead of fresh, they produced a tasty dish.

He added that he was planning a trip down to the food bank to learn more about what was involved, especially after learning that some of his own students’ families had needed the facility in the past.

“It has been a bit of an eye-opener,” he said. “This is getting them involved and getting them to think differently.”

Chairman of the foodbank trustees Russell Riggs said the lunch was intended to mark the anniversary and at the same time draw it to the attention of the business community in Swindon.

“We couldn’t really celebrate it, so we are celebrating how the community has responded to the needs of its own.”

Getting businesses involved was part of a long term plan to ensure the service was still around in the future, especially if, as was feared, there was an increased need for it.”