Gourmet Central Club – Activity 5 – 25 th February 2025
REPORT
No one who cooks, cooks alone…. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks of the past, the advice and menus of cooks in the present and has for company the wisdom of cookbook writers.
The culminating activity ‘VPMS, Master Chef’of the Gourmet Club saw the children enthusiastically working in pairs and participating in creating a meal by themselves. It took a little flexibility and some simple prep work to set out the ingredients and utensils required by
them. The recipes had been memorized and rehearsed for a perfect spread to be laid out at the end.
Cooking encourages children to explore a variety of foods, to experiment with properties of science, use language to share knowledge of foods all while creating good things to eat. Children develop a sense of pride and accomplishment by making and enjoying a finished product. From the appetizers to the main course leading to the desserts, the children had it all planned. They got busy preparing a variety of dishes like Mojitos, Potato Bursts, Bombay Masala Sandwiches, Alfredo Pasta, Pasta Arabietta, the Burmese Khow Suey and Chocolate Balls.
The teams got busy with their dishes and were given 2 hours to have their table laid out. They were judged on their skills of cutting, chopping, grating, ingredients use, hygiene, time management, nutritional values and plating skills. They spoke a little about the regions from where their dishes originated and how the recipes have been altered to suit the tastebuds of the generations over the years.
The activity ended with the judges declaring the results and a feedback session reminiscing about all the activities conducted in this academic year. The children spoke about how this club had helped them practice some basic math concepts and build language skills. They were able to create small meals which helped build their self-confidence and laid the foundation for healthy eating habits. That they became more mindful of what they’re putting into their body and that they could save money by avoiding expenditure on meals eaten out.
Mrs. Shaheen Chaiwala
