OVER the past decade it has won awards and it's helped transform eating habits across the region.

And on Friday evening the ten years of highly-successful social enterprise You Can Cook was celebrated at the Eastgate Theatre.

Boscoa Santimano began his culinary enterprise in 2007.

The Peebles-based businessman was already a well-known chef and environmental campaigner.

And he brought his knowledge and his values to the table when launching the eat-healthy-live-healthy philosophy of You Can Cook.

Having won many local authority, NHS and government agency contracts and funding awards over the preceding 10 years Bosco and his ever-growing team have helped change attitudes and tastes both in the kitchen and in the garden.

On Friday Bosco was joined by over 70 guests at the Eastgate to help blow out the candles.

He said: "The audience was a mix of clients, partners, participants, funders, local councillors and our MSP, staff and volunteers who all came to join in the celebration of this momentous achievement.

"All in all, a fabulous evening and a big thank you to all who came and also to those that could not come."

Friday's Big Birthday Bash began with two short films charting the services offered by You Can Cook, and its subsidiary You Can Grow, as well as the impact it has made on communities across Scotland.

MSP Christine Grahame, Fraser Kelly, who is CEO of Social Enterprise Scotland, and Louise Arnold from business organisation Interface were guest speakers for the evening.

Mr Santimano also presented a slideshow depicting the amusing ups and downs of You Can Cook over the decade.

And, unsurprisingly, a magnificently healthy buffet prepared by You Can Cook staff awaited the guests before a DJ helped end the evening with a swing.

Bosco added: "After the formal part of the evening, a spread of food was displayed for all to partake in and taste the delicious recipes we teach through our cookery classes.

"We will be posting the recipes of the food on social media including the slides, photographs and videos for all to see."