And if your little darlings do show an aptitude for the pepper and salt, then bear in mind there can be money in it. Four finalists recently battled it out to win the title of Midlands Young Chef of the Year competition, for which the first prize was a gourmet trip for three to Paris and £500 spending money, sponsored by Ryanair and the Ulster Bank.
The final took place in the Wineport Lakeshore Restaurant in Glasson, Co Westmeath, where Victoria Janssens cooked Chicken Majorka, Stephen Smith cooked Chinese Velvet Chicken, Aoibheann Gavigan cooked Pork Fillet with Black Pudding, and Harry O'Rourke cooked Beef Tenderloin with Roquefort and Jersey Cream Sauce - which won him the prize.