It’s getting dicey in here
Culinary classes trade pencils for spatulas and knives, learn how to make meals from scratch
Caleb Wilson stirs vegetables on the stovetop.
January 17, 2015
Cookies, cakes, queso, cleaning dishes and chopping vegetables are just some typical things to endure as culinary students. The delicious smells through the halls of the art building indicates that the cooking has begun.
The culinary program is run by Megan Wolske and Haley Delvizis, who had more than 200 students in eight culinary classes.
Rolling dough, senior Mayia Miles and juniors Loreen Wagner and Daszia Sullivan prepare chocolate chip cookies during Megan Wolske’s Culinary Prep class fifth period. “When baking cookies, my group and I had a blast and it’s safe to say our cookies were the bomb,” Sullivan said. Honestly, my favorite part about Culinary is getting to eat.”
“The best part of teaching culinary is getting to teach my students basic cooking skills that they can use throughout life,” Wolske said. “In order to be a successful student in our classes you need to have motivation, the want to learn, and be open minded.”
The students learned how to make a variety of main courses and desserts.
“A few things we cooking during the year is homemade pizza, pasta, cookies, soup, pie, salad, and much more,” Wolske said. “I encourage anyone who doesn’t know how to cook, anyone who likes to cook or anyone that wants to learn how to cook to take culinary.”
At Thanksgiving the classes made a tradition dinner, and at Christmas they made gingerbread houses.
“I was really excited to learn how to cook parts of a Thanksgiving dinner,” foreign exchange student Loreen Wagner said. “In Germany we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving so this will be a brand new experience for me. I’ve enjoyed culinary so far. It’s very fun to cook with everyone and then taste the delicious food we prepared.”
Senior Dylan Halbeisen spoons cookie dough on a pan.
The class also helps students build teamwork skills and gives them opportunities to make new friends within their assigned cooking group.
“My favorite part has been when we get to cook in our groups and work as a team,” Sophia Garcia said. “I would recommend every student to take culinary because it’s an overall fun class and a great learning experience.”
Some of the basic skills taught in culinary are how to safely use kitchen tools, how to properly cut and prepare certain foods, and how to maintain a clean kitchen. Some students in culinary plan to become chefs and this is the first step for getting into that career.
“I joined culinary due to my interest in cooking and my want to learn more, but it is so much more than that,” Garcia said. “I’ve also made new friends and become more comfortable working with new people. I like culinary a lot it’s a great class and a wonderful experience.”
One of the first dishes the students learn to make is ratatouille.
