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A group of Vision Australia clients recently got busy in the kitchen thanks to a cooking masterclass with Chef Daniel.

Held at Chef Daniel's At Baker Street restaurant in Gosford, the TV personality chef provided clients with a range of different tips to help them overcome the challenges that living with blindness or low vision can pose to being active and independent in the kitchen.

The masterclass started with Chef Daniel providing some tips around how to safely use knives and other cutting equipment in the kitchen, as well as how people who are blind or have low vision can shop for quality ingredients and identify them when cooking.

Chef Daniel also provided the group with some advice on how senses besides vision can help them in the kitchen. Chef Daniel provided a demonstration of this by cooking a dish while wearing Vision Australia’s simulation glasses.

Check out a video of Chef Daniel's demo here. 

Chef Daniel giving instructions to the assembled group inside the kitchen of his restaurant

Following on from Chef Daniel’s demos, it was time for the group of clients and volunteers to get hands on and under guidance, they put their new skills into practice by preparing, cooking and enjoying pizzas.

Vision Australia coordinator of volunteers and community relations for Central Coast and Hunter, Jordan Ashby, said the masterclass was a success for everyone involved.

“Being able to prepare your own food is an important part of being independent and is also a popular pastime for many. Living with blindness or low vision shouldn’t prevent people from doing that,” Jordan said.

“Obviously there are some challenges for our clients to overcome, but Chef Daniel provided some great tips about different techniques that our clients can use to keep themselves safe and give them some confidence to either get back in the kitchen or take up cooking for the first time,” he said.

Chef Daniel talking with a Vision Australia client, rolled up mounds of pizza dough are on the board in front of them

“It’s also a great chance for us to connect with clients and offer further advice about specific equipment or techniques that might make life in the kitchen a little bit easier.”

Vision Australia would like to thank Chef Daniel, his staff and our amazing volunteers for making the masterclass possible for our clients.

For more information about how Vision Australia could help you in the kitchen, get in touch today by calling 1300 84 74 66 or email [email protected].

Group assembling pizzas in their final stages, adding toppings before they are cooked to enjoy