The purpose-built 'Masterchefs and Maestros' learning area has been in the planning for the last four years and was funded by the school's parents' group, Friends of Moncreiffe, along with Perth & Kinross Council.
The homely kitchen will allow children to be taught how to prepare and cook healthy meals, and to make good choices about food.
The school hopes to involve families in the project as well, getting parents and grandparents into the kitchen to help the kids with their cooking.
'Masterchefs and Maestros' has been supported by Graeme Pallister, the chef at 63 Tay Street restaurant, who has provided crucial advice on the project. He will also be involved in devising the cooking programme and teaching pupils how to come up with healthy and tasty meals.
As part of their food studies children will visit farms and local suppliers to learn about where ingredients come from, and they will continue to cultivate their own school herb garden.
Moncreiffe Primary's headteacher, Karen Young, explained: "The kitchen is the first purpose-built facility of its kind in an existing Perth and Kinross School, and we are very happy that Mr Lochhead has joined us today to open it.
"We are extremely proud to have this at our school. It is a lovely kitchen with great facilities, and I'm sure that the children will really enjoy learning in it."
"We had the idea for the children to have a kitchen learning area around four years ago. It is our shared vision that every child will leave our school with the skills and knowledge to cook confidently a range of simple, healthy and nutritious foods. We hope that they will carry that knowledge with them for life, helping them to lead happy and healthy lives.
"The kitchen has only been possible thanks to fundraising work of Friends of Moncreiffe, and I would like to thank them for their amazing efforts. The Council also helped fund the project and has been very supportive of our aims.
"I would also like to thank Mr Pallister, who has been a great help to the school in this, and many other projects. He helped us with the truffles which were found by one of the gardening groups last year, and recently drew on his professional links to get a colleague to create the school's own brand of truffle oil. His ongoing advice and support will be invaluable."
Mr Lochhead said:
"I am delighted to open the new Moncreiffe Primary school kitchen to give every pupil a chance to learn to cook healthy and tasty meals. This wonderful initiative supported by chef Graeme Pallister aims to involve families in the development of the cooking programme. Along with the school's own garden, where the first edible white truffle to be found in Scotland was discovered by a pupil earlier this year, this is a great way of involving pupils in growing and cooking their own vegetables.
"Food is a vital part of our well-being and as part of our national food and drink policy, by helping young people to understand more about where their food comes from, from farm gate to plate, we hope this will instil healthier eating habits for life."
The Council's Lifelong Learning Convener, Councillor Liz Grant, added:
"This is an excellent facility that will have a positive impact on the lives of pupils and their families.
"The Council has been very happy to support Moncreiffe Primary School in its ambition to provide their pupils with this kitchen. The school has shown great enterprise to bring this project to fruition, and the teachers, pupils and parents are all to be warmly congratulated. I would also like to thank Mr Pallister for his continued interest and support for the school."
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