Richmond Borough school dinners -- anyone been to Sodexho tasting?

[eleusis]

Just wondering people's opinions about the quality of the food. Our tasting is at 2:45 -- ever so convenient for working parents!

nobody?

No but BIL's wedding was catered by Sodexho - not nice. However they have just taken over all our stores (NAAFI's) here in Cyprus and they seem to have some great ideas, they are a huge comapny, maybe my experience was just a one off.

yes, was good

my children now have a variety of options at lunch - a fantastic salad bar which they love (pasta salad, cucumber, lettuce, various other salady things), a jacket potato option every day and a proper hot meal option. And they get fresh fruit as a pudding option every day (they had watermelon for pudding yesterday).

I am happy, they are happy, we are all happy (and yes, our tasting session was around that time too!).

Sodexho has a salad bar? Fox, I thought your school had opted out of Sodexho?

oh, have I got the wrong people. Probably. I cannot remember who we have. Whoever they are, they are very good (but bloody expensive).

If Sodexho are the borough people, then we haven't got them.

Sorry eleusis. I'm a bit out of the loop at the moment!

Yes - but in Bromley. I think they call it the Joules menu. Its good I think - my two school age boys have school lunch and generally enjoy it. You should get a termly menu planner which shows what is provided. My experience is that they do provide what is on the menu and rarely substitute

Sodexho are the borough people. So your menu sadly is not the same

Yes, it's the same Joules menu that Bromley has. I have the menu, which looks okay but lacks detail. I asked Sodexho directly for a list of ingredients and they refused. So presumably they either don't know what's in it or they don't want me to know. Either of those things is unacceptable. They will have to fork over the list of ingredients of they want my business, but I'm still interested to know if anyone has actually tasted this food.

I have until Jan to decide since DD is just starting reception and so doesn't go full time (and eat lunch there) until Jan.

Richmond borough menu

anymone else?

Just been looking at the Bromley version because dd starts receoption in January and would really like her to have school meals. In fact, at her pre-school (which is attached to a primary) she has for the last couple of terms eaten with the big children.
My feelings about the meals are mixed. On the one hand, enjoy the hassle-free approach. On the other, I don't like the look of "southern style quorn dippers" and sometimes when I've asked her what she ate she's replied "meat and gravy". When I asked her what kind of meat it was, she said "grey". Not the most glowing of testimonials. ON the other hand, she is a keen vegetable eater, and I like the balance that is provided on the whole.

What I want to know is the additives in crap. Like, tell me there is no nutrasweet in the dessert you are serving every day? And why does my 4 year old need dessert at every meal?????

My children invariably choose yoghurt or fruit in a pot instead of pudding - its what they have at home. They love having roast dinners at school, eat chips no more than once per fortnight and sometimes have pizza.

If you aren't sure about the menu can you send her in with a packed lunch. I know after 5 years of making a pack lunch for DS1 every day I'd be happy if he ate a baked potato with beans in school every day.

From what I see and hear they eat a balanced diet with loads of fruit and veg. It may be more of a struggle with children who are more picky. - They would never choose Southern Style Quorn dippers.

What it tastes like - I think this seriously depends on the people cooking it. We have a very enthusiastic chef at the DS's school.