IF top chef Paul Heathcote is right, future generations are going to sit down to some pretty dreadful fare.

He claims that our schools are producing a generation of youngsters who can't cook.

He and his colleagues in posh nosh kitchens around the land are appalled to find that young people who tell them they want to be cooks or chefs don't even know how to peel a potato.

Domestic science lessons, which were used to teach children how to cook good, plain meals have been replaced by food technology sessions which, according to Mr Heathcote, don't involve any actual cooking.

He has a point.

My observations reveal that the staple diet of the under 35s revolves around Chinese, Indian, Thai and pizza takeaways or ready made frozen meals from the supermarket which only require a basic knowledge in microwave operation.

However, this lack of interest in culinary skills could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Mr Heathcote.

Those who haven't a clue in the kitchen will spend more time in restaurants like his ... even though recruitiing the staff to feed them may be a bit of a problem.