Welcome to our website dedicated to menus made by microorganisms. Our aim is to give microorganisms a more positive image by raising awareness of their value in food production and processing, food preservation and nutrition. Over the next 12 months, we will be hosting events that encourage different audiences to enjoy some wonderful and diverse foods whose origin or development we owe to microorganisms. What better way to learn than through eating! The website will grow as the year progresses, and will include event information, recipes, plenty of microbiology, and opportunities for visitor interactions with our scientists.

The Team

Joanna Verran is Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on the interactions occurring between microorganisms and surfaces in lots of different environments such as the food industry, the home, medical environments – and the mouth! Jo is also keen to raise awareness of the importance of microorganisms to everyday life, and as such has delivered a range of public events designed to do just that. The idea for the series of ‘Menus made by microbes’ events came about as Jo was considering how to reach different audiences. Eating together is an activity unsentimental to our way of life, and the aim of ‘Menus’ was to encourage discussion around food microbiology whilst dining on food whos origins or processing we owe to microorganisms.

MetMunch (www.metmunch.com ) is a globally-recognised, student-led social enterprise based at MMU, which promotes sustainable, healthy and nutritious food. They educate, inform and entertain through food and fun, providing skills and training that develop MetMunchers into confident, passionate global citizens, and an active Twitter account (@MetMUnch). They apply knowledge learned in the lecture theatre to university and community events, providing on-the-spot nutritional advice, running pop-up stalls, cooking nutritious meals and leading fun, interactive activities. MetMunch’s commitment to sustainable food saw them win the national and international 2014 green gown awards for student engagement, and the founder, Haleh Moravej, won the award for outstanding teaching for sustainability at the MMU 2015 teaching awards.

Richard Fox (www.richardfoxcooks.co.uk ) is a celebrity chef, broadcaster and writer, known as the Beer Chef. He wrote his first book, The Food and Beer Cook Book, in 2008, and has led Beer and Food Masterclasses, demonstrations and shows across Europe, hosted a gourmet beer banquet at the British Ambassador’s residence in Paris. He also writes a Beer Chef column in Maxim. Together with his friend Neil Morrissey, he has developed a range of beers under the name Morrissey Fox. In 2010 they made the ITV series Men Brewing Badly which documented their road journey from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg transporting a batch of English beer destined for the English football supporters during the 2010 World Cup.