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Author: Ottoline Achebe-Kirkwood

Almost every serious food safety incident I have investigated was preventable by something small and boring that nobody had time for. I write about the controls that actually reduce risk — allergen communication, temperature discipline, cleaning that follows a sequence — and I am honest that a kitchen serving four hundred meals on limited staffing cannot do everything. Tell me what you can realistically sustain, and I will tell you where to put it.
Teaching Cooking as a Practical Skill
Nutrition

Teaching Cooking as a Practical Skill

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 21, 2026

I’ve sat through enough “innovative” teaching seminars to know that most people approach the topic of how food education fits…

Sustainable Procurement Within the Budget
School Meals

Sustainable Procurement Within the Budget

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 20, 2026September 20, 2026

I’ve sat in too many staff rooms listening to consultants drone on about “zero-waste ecosystems” and “carbon-neutral procurement” while the…

Stop Trying to Be a Michelin Chef and Learn How to Meal Prep for the Week Using Systems That Actually Stick.
Nutrition

Stop Trying to Be a Michelin Chef and Learn How to Meal Prep for the Week Using Systems That Actually Stick.

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 19, 2026

I’ve spent enough time in school kitchens to know that the “Pinterest version” of meal prepping is a dangerous fantasy.…

Reading a Pest Control Report Properly
Kitchens

Reading a Pest Control Report Properly

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 18, 2026September 18, 2026

I’ve stood in enough school kitchens at 6:00 AM to know that when you see a smear of grease near…

The Fridge Failed Overnight: What Now
Food Safety

The Fridge Failed Overnight: What Now

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 17, 2026

I’ll never forget standing in a secondary school kitchen at 10:30 AM, watching a frantic catering manager stare at a…

The Complete Guide to Kitchen Health and Safety
Guides

The Complete Guide to Kitchen Health and Safety

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 17, 2026September 24, 2026

I’ve spent sixteen years walking into kitchens where the air is thick with the smell of industrial degreaser and the…

Checking Fridges Twice a Day and Recording It
Food Safety

Checking Fridges Twice a Day and Recording It

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 16, 2026September 16, 2026

I’ve walked into enough school kitchens to know that when I ask how fridges and freezers should be monitored, I’m…

Dropping Good Food and Bad Food Language
Nutrition

Dropping Good Food and Bad Food Language

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 16, 2026

I was standing in a school kitchen three years ago, watching a midday service descend into chaos because a trainee…

You Can’t Cook Your Way Out of Funding Shortages in Local School Meal Programs, So Stop Trying to Do Everything and Start Protecting the Essentials.
School Meals

You Can’t Cook Your Way Out of Funding Shortages in Local School Meal Programs, So Stop Trying to Do Everything and Start Protecting the Essentials.

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 16, 2026

I remember standing in a kitchen in East London three years ago, the air thick with the smell of industrial…

Stop Wasting Time on Useless Scrubs: the Realistic Guide on How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables Correctly to Actually Reduce Risk.
Food Safety

Stop Wasting Time on Useless Scrubs: the Realistic Guide on How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables Correctly to Actually Reduce Risk.

Ottoline Achebe-KirkwoodSeptember 16, 2026

I’ve walked into enough school kitchens during the mid-morning rush to know that nobody has the time or the inclination…

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