Scott Graham, a chef from Dundonald, serves as food development manager in the Education Authority's catering service improvement team. He joined the team in 2022 after prior roles as catering manager at Strandtown Primary School in Belfast from 2010, area supervisor, and area manager.

Graham previously worked in restaurants in Belfast and hotels in South Africa, including Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg with Protea Hotel Group. He shifted to education catering to balance family time with three young children.

In his current position, Graham develops recipes and improves menus to align with modern eating habits while meeting nutritional standards. The menus feature healthier takes on popular items like pizza, curry, and roast dinners.

Post-primary schools now offer 'Flavours of the World' options inspired by global street food, such as Greek gyros and bao buns. Grab-and-go items mimic high-street dining styles.

Pupils provide feedback through taster days and events to refine dishes and expand their preferences.

This week at the IFEX food and hospitality event in the EIKON Exhibition Centre, Graham and his Education Authority colleagues demonstrated Spanish chicken from the primary menu and a beef donburi bowl from the post-primary range.