For junior Adeline Shuff, culinary class is about more than just cooking food. It’s about gaining independence, teamwork and confidence for the future. This year, Shuff’s favorite thing she has learned is how to prepare and bake chicken breasts. Though it sounds simple, there are many aspects to it.
One of the most important lessons in the class was learning proper knife safety.
“Something I didn’t know before was more knife safety skills and how to properly use them,” Shuff said.
Learning these skills has made her more comfortable in the kitchen. Safety is a priority every day. Students wear hairnets, chef coats and gloves when needed. They are always washing hands and maintaining a neat, tidy and clean workspace. These habits help create a safe and professional environment.
Although Shuff hasn’t used any of the cooking skills she’s learned in class at home, she hopes she will get to soon.
“I’m excited that I get to learn new things that I can eventually cook for my future family,” Shuff said.
The biggest life skill she’s developing right now is independence. She wants to be able to not always rely on her parents to cook. Working in groups has also helped with strengthening her communication skills.
Culinary instructor Anthony Chevalier sees the kids’ growth every day. According to him, students develop real-world skills by learning how to function in a commercial kitchen setting.
“Their confidence level steps up once they start cooking different recipes,” he said.
At first, many students worry about making mistakes, but he reassures them that it is okay not to always get it on the first try and that practice makes perfect.
Teamwork is another major focus in the kitchen. Once students advance to the next culinary class, they get to cook more. They are placed in teams where communication becomes essential for working together. Though recipes don’t always go as planned, the groups have to come up with a solution to solve the problem.
“There is always a way to correct it,” Chevalier said.
For a chef, watching the students grow is the most rewarding part.
“They all love cooking, and I love teaching them,” he said. “It makes me a better chef.”
