Cooking With Class

Recently, I was the guest presenter to a group of fifteen Year 10 students at Indooroopilly State High School. Their teacher Melinda Wallace invited me to demonstrate some tricks of the trade so they could impress family and friends at an upcoming dinner.

“I really value getting people in from the real world,” Ms Wallace said. “I knew that they would pick-up a lot from seeing the demonstration.”

I feared the old stage adage about children and animals, but to my real surprise they were all excited to have someone of my renown give them a hands-on run through of the dishes they would be preparing themselves the next week.

In 70 minutes I had to show my audience how to prepare a Mediterranean vegetable flan, Thai style chicken breast and a selection of vegetables, plus a garnish or two. A domestic challenge in itself.

With not a frozen pastry sheet in sight I took them through each step; from preparing and roasting the vegetables for the flan, to creating the marinade for the chicken. Yes, on the night they would even have to make their own pastry.

I roasted red and green capsicum, fennel, spanish onion and mushrooms. Of course I showed them the importance of removing the capsicum skin after roasting. While still hot, place in a plastic vegie bag or cover with cling wrap and allow to sit for about 20 minutes. The chicken breasts were lightly scored to allow the marinade to penetrate and for later presentation.

On the night the students’ parents and carers gathered in a classroom transformed into a dining room – tables set with floral decorations, mood lighting and music.

All the students had a job to do, from maitre d, table service, to the kitchen brigade busy in preparation.

I was also present to help if necessary and give a guiding hand when it came to some of the finer points that may be forgotten under such pressure.

At the end of the evening the most surprised were the parents and carers, who probably all agreed with one parent’s comment, that the kids could cook every night. Comparing these Year 10 students’ skills in the kitchen to some adults I know, they win hands down.

James The Lazy Cook