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YOUNGSTERS are being taught how to master basic cooking skills thanks to two entrepreneurial neighbours fighting against the fad of fast food and unhealthy eating habits, writes Shilpa Chandran.
Radhika Sil and Letitia Booysen, from Sehla, have devised a series of special culinary courses and have witnessed their simple idea mushroom, thanks to the demand for their services by parents, teachers and business leaders.
Mother-of-two Radhika, 35, said: "Between the two of us, we have 18 years of culinary experience and so instead of bringing in another franchise to the kingdom we thought it best to create a home-grown concept - something that is born and bred here in Bahrain.
"We noticed that all the schools were offering activity programmes in various subjects such as sport and music for children aged six to eight but none offered one for cooking - that's where we came in!"
Gymnastics coach Letitia, 25, spawned the idea after setting up cookery lessons as an off-shoot of her 'Monkeynastix' movement education classes she has been running for children aged one to eight across the island.
Now five months after teaming up with Radhika a Clever Cooks facility in a villa in Saar Gardens will shortly be opening its doors for business.
Clever cooks Radhika Sil and Letitia Booysen hope to inspire families to learn the art of cooking together which they feel has been lost or diminished by busy lifestyles.
And the Sehla entrepreneurs even plan to introduce cooking programmes into the world of big business.
"It's not too late to bring back the enjoyment of cooking - we aim to revolutionise a new activity for family members where they can spend quality time together - as well as provide organisations and companies the chance to bring staff members together for a unique and creative team-building exercise," said Letitia.
They currently provide children of all ages, healthy and nutritional education. Radhika explained: "Numerical, literacy, science - everything comes into play when you are cooking. It is one of the most competitive ways to reach out to children giving them another avenue other than the classroom to learn."
After setting up after-school cookery courses, the women were soon in demand for children's parties and asked to stage events at schools, including St Christopher's School, and crash courses for teenagers to learn how to feed themselves healthily once they leave the comfort of home (and a maid) for university.
And, now the Clever Cooks enterprise looks set to conquer the world. Radhika explained: "A well-known school in Delhi has requested our cooking programme which they hope to introduce as part of an International Baccalaureate programme.
"They were particularly keen on helping to guide senior students aged 16 to 18 to help provide a foundation of healthy living before they left school and their comfort zones for pastures new."
Letitia added: "We have also received calls from people enquiring about opening a Clever Cooks franchise in South Africa and recently received interest from the principal of a pre-school in Oman who wanted to discuss the possibility of introducing a programme there."
After working from home the 'clever cooks' have been tirelessly raising funds for their new facility in Saar Gardens which will be called 'Hap-a-t' , a play on the urban English word 'happity' which means being extremely happy, or the happiest in your life.
Radhika said: "We will have four rooms, one for Clever Cooks, one for Monkeynastix and we hope to lease out the other two rooms for ladies like us who want to promote unique activities on the island."
Bahrain-based interior architect Judith Simmons has helped the pair in setting up the facility which is expected to open in four weeks. It will include a safe, 'child-friendly' environment offering cooking classes for youngsters as well as teenagers and adults in a German-designed kitchen.
Clever Cooks are also offering leadership training and motivational classes for young adults and corporate clients under the guidance of lifestyle coach Lorraine Somersall.
They will also be taking part in a charity event to be held on May 8 at the Moevenpick Hotel in Muharraq featuring more than 50 women entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses.
