The news follows a week-long course for young people in culinary arts, reports Olivia Opara

An Afro-Caribbean cafe has decided to re-launch with a new name after celebrating the completion of its week-long cooking course for young people on Friday (13th October).

The day was opened by the mayor of Haringey who handed out the certificates to the ten young people who had completed the week-long course. They were also given a Gina’s Cafe (formerly Blooming Scent Cafe) broach as a gift. Also in attendance were Prince’s Trust staff and members of the Trampery who were treated to an Afro-Caribbean buffet made by the young people.

Lester Buxton, mayor of Haringey, said: “It’s great seeing local young people developing their skills and a local business here at the Trampery, formerly Blooming Scent, reaching out to the community to develop the skills of young people.”

The course was delivered in partnership between Gina’s Cafe and the Prince’s Trust as part of the trust’s Black History Month programme. During the course the young people learnt how to cook a range of Afro-Caribbean cuisine including jerk chicken, jollof rice, rice and peas and mac’n’cheese.

Alongside this, the young people earned a level two food and hygiene certificate and had the opportunity to cook and cater for the wider community.

Cyrone, who took part in the course, said: “The experience was good and I learnt a lot. I came here to learn how to cook and my cooking skills have improved as well as my team working skills. Overall it was a good experience.”

Taz Adia, who works at the Prince’s Trust, added: “The thing that I love the most about this is that it’s giving back to the community. I am from Hackney, and being from a neighboring borough and being able to run a programme here in Tottenham for the Prince’s Trust has just been perfect.

“Gina and her team are always helping young people so if there are young people who ever need help they can find support at Gina’s.”

Gina Moffwat, owner of Blooming Scent and a Prince’s Trust alumni, told HCP that she “learnt a lot” from the young people she worked with over the past week and how they have “inspired” her to make the decision to relaunch her cafe as ‘Gina’s’.

Gina said: “It has been an amazing week and the young people are so magical – they have got so much talent and I have learnt something from them.”

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