With the rise of takeout and decline of homemade cooking, students in younger generations everywhere are becoming less healthy and more dependent on fast-food services. Gourmet Foods is a class offered by schools throughout Loudoun County in which students can expect to develop and/or improve foundational cooking skills, make nutritious meals, and build fundamental life capabilities—all in one school year.
According to the Loudoun County Public Schools course description, Gourmet Foods is the application of science concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics to the study of foods. At first, students can expect to learn about safety and sanitation, how to measure ingredients, knife safety, many different knife skills, and how to prevent cross contamination. The different cuisines that will be made throughout the year are pasta dishes, Mexican dishes, and American dishes, such as burgers and fries. Nutrition and wellness is also a priority in the Gourmet Foods classroom. Mrs. Abby O’Connor, who teaches Gourmet Foods at Woodgrove, spoke on nutrition and wellness topics. She explained, “As a teenager, you’re going through a lot, a lot of school work and family problems, maybe friend problems, so it’s not only about cooking. It’s about that nutrition and wellness that we should be pushing towards every day.”
The class may be one of the most important electives in the school, as it serves a great purpose. O’Connor commented on the importance of the class, explaining, “It just gives them [students] a really strong foundation of life skills when it comes to navigating around the kitchen, how to navigate a recipe,e and cook for themselves at an early age and for their families as they get older.” Gourmet Foods will prepare students for college life and beyond. Students will also learn about teamwork and communication skills, which are needed not only in a kitchen environment, but also in all aspects of life.
The environment in the Gourmet Foods classroom is one full of vibrancy. A strong aroma of tasty food fills the classroom every block and seeps into the neighboring hallways. O’Connor’s classroom has many decorations that create a feeling of hominess, which helps the students immerse themselves into their craft. Freshman Paige Tracy, a Gourmet Foods student, commented, “It’s lots of fun compared to a normal core class, which is sitting at a desk all day. In Gourmet Foods, you’re up and moving and having fun.”
Mistakes are something to be expected, but are not something to fear. Students should feel encouraged to keep practicing and not be disheartened when a mistake happens. “Today, actually, I didn’t add enough baking soda and the pancakes were really flat, so next time I know to look at the directions a lot more clearly and measure correctly,” Tracy mentioned.
O’Connor voiced how students can improve foundational cooking and life skills, even if they choose to not take the Gourmet Foods class offered by their school. She remarked, “Get on YouTube, watch video tutorials…It’s more than just cooking. It feeds your soul. It feeds your happiness.”