THE secrets of making naan bread were revealed to children from Tavistock Primary School last week, as they enjoyed a cooking lesson with a difference.

The year 6 children spent the morning at Thariks Indian Restaurant in West Street, by special invite of managers Ronnie and Nazrul Hoque, when they learned about the spices used in Indian cookery, their origins, the dishes prepared in the restaurant and the fiery oven used to cook naan bread.

The youngsters were shown how to make their own naan bread and were then able to eat them, along with crispy poppadums, chutney and yoghurt raita.

Teacher Simon Beatty said: 'It's been a really good morning. We did some work at school earlier, looking at where India is in the world, a little of its history and the difference between the food in the north and the south.

'It's been really good for them from a cultural aspect — and they've loved the food!

Mr Beatty said the idea of the visit had been 'excellent' and thoroughly enjoyed by the children.

'We've already been learning about Hinduism, so it was a very useful addition to this,' he said.

Nazrul Hoque said it had been a busy, but very enjoyable morning.

'It's been really good to work with the children,' he said.

'It's been nice to teach them something about our culture, and about the spices — how the best ones come from the south of India, where it's very hot.

'Their favourite bit has been making the naan bread — and they are tasting everything! Sometimes people are afraid of doing that, but they are trying it all.'

Mr Hoque thanked Mr Beatty and the school for allowing the children to come to Thariks — and said he hoped the idea could be repeated with other schools in the area.

'We would also like to try it with smaller groups of older students from the College — then we could actually show them how to make a curry,' he said.

Anyone interested in a school visit to Thariks should contact Nazrul Hoque on 01822 616520 after 5.30pm.