The event organised by the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI), saw year 9 students ‘cook-off’’ a lunch with seven older people from the region’s Turkish, Lebanese, Hungarian, Greek, Macedonian and Portuguese communities.

Young and old combined to cook a selection of tasty meals such as Portuguese Bacalhau a Braz, or Braz-style cod fish, fron Bairro Alto, the old quater of Lisbon.

Jonah Miles and Declan Da Silva enjoyed cooking with Maria da Conçeição Gouveia, who hails from Madeira in Portugal.

MCCI multicultural youth coordinator Allyson Pazos said the event was a celebration of diversity and cooperation.

‘’Cook-Off enables generations from different cultural backgrounds to come together, and in a fun and safe space share stories and their passion for food,’’ she said.