Life in Lockdown: Johan's story
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A professional chef has turned to recruiting his six children as kitchen staff during the lockdown in Inverness.
Johan Sikkema (35) is a private chef for clients from all over the globe, but during the coronavirus restrictions he is teaching his own children about a love of food, and fine dining.
Johan was previously a chef at Culloden House Hotel, and last year appeared on TV screens as part of a BBC programme Laid Bare to help people live happier, more healthy lives.
Johan told his story as part of a series of articles on how people are coping during lockdown, details on how to take part are at the end of this article, or by clicking here.
During the lockdown he is at home with his wife Nicole, and the couple's four children Daniel (14), Frankie (3), Lottie who will be two on May 13, and Theo who was born in February. Johan's children Jayden (10) and Leilan (12) live part of the week with the couple at their home in the Inches area of the city.
Johan, who took up working for himself last year, said the time in lockdown was "fantastic".
He said: "I think the most difficult thing for most people is cooking something different every night for their family.
"But in this house we are having three meals a day, and snack plates that are being prepared by a professional chef. I am loving it.
"I have got the children involved with it all.
"We love making smoothies together – in fact the children even love the sound of the smoothie maker.
"And these kids love bananas."
Johan concedes that some days children are very fickle with food. "One day they will say 'Daddy I love cucumbers, and the next day they say 'I hate it'. I try not to get too worried about it. Things change so quickly in the life of a child.
Johan said he had been working very hard to bring the children together in a love for food.
He said: "Every day we have been working with the children to plan and prepare meals together, and they then have been helping to prepare those meals.
"As much as possible we have been shopping together, preparing the food, chopping and cutting the vegetables before we then start to cook with them.
"The children have been involved in every aspect of eating together. Because they have been helping out, it means they are taking more interest in their food and eating things they might not have tried before."
If he was still at work Johan would be preparing meals for groups staying at luxury properties around Inverness and the Highlands. His work has completely dried up during the pandemic. He said: "At this time of year, I would be making fresh salmon and Aberdeen Angus beef for customers, I would be looking carefully at the season and making beautiful meals for my clients from London and from much further afield.
"Instead I am at home with the children and it is honestly fantastic."
He continued: "Children are much harder to please than some of my customers, and I am sure that is the same for anyone working in this industry.
"But I want to say to other parents, ask friends what they are cooking, and share recipes.
"We have been making snack plates for the kids with carrot batons and cucumber with homemade hummus, anyone can do that - simple, colourful and the kids can be involved at every single stage. It is wonderful."
Do you have a story about life in lockdown you would like to share?
Contact Louise Glen at louise.glen@hnmedia.co.uk or on 01463 233059.
Alternatively contact via text or Whatsapp on 07496 491030 or through the Inverness Courier Facebook page by clicking this link.
