On days when the student-used kitchen is bustling and the class is hard at work mixing ingredients, the hallways smell heavenly. One of these classes that uses the kitchen is catering, which allows students to provide hospitality to the community.
Run by Jodie Hildebrand, the class cooks and bakes for many groups of people. Due to the responsibility of making food for others, the class is an Honors credit. Two semesters of culinary classes must be taken, as well as teacher approval granted for students to join the class. The students in the class have enough experience to be trusted with
handling food given to the community.
In the class, there are multiple opportunities for students to interact with different people.
“We either guest elementary students and have them come in for little cooking lessons and activities. We run the Veterans Day lunch event, and then we do the cookie fundraiser,” Ms. Hildebrand said.
Flanders elementary students are regularly hosted by the catering students, who guide them through hands-on cooking projects.
“This year, we had them make homemade applesauce one day and then muffins on another,” Ms. Hildebrand said.
Senior Samantha Rodes has experience with cooking while taking hospitality and culinary classes at ELHS. Each class has helped students develop practical skills for everyday life.
“I’ve always been interested in cooking and hospitality, but catering has taught me a lot about mass production and the safety measures you have to follow when making food for others,” Rodes said.
Rodes enjoys the Catering class especially, as she gets to teach and show the elementary students different skills in the kitchen through the class.
“My favorite event so far was working with the second graders. They are always so excited to be with the high schoolers and in the kitchen baking,” Rodes said.
Another way that the catering class gives back to the community and provides hospitality is through the Viking Cafe, which happens only a couple of times a school year. The Viking Cafe is an experience shared by both students in the Catering class and outside of it. Taking place at lunch, students can be served food by their peers from the class.
Alongside the events, independence comes from the class as compared to other culinary classes. The Catering class operates with a sense of trust and responsibility, as much as it is fun.
“Ms. Hildebrand doesn’t have to check up on us or keep a close eye on us because she knows we’ve all had experience in the kitchen,” Rodes said
Ms. Hildebrand does put a lot of trust in her students, as well as takes pride in them.
“It’s a great group of kids and they work really well together,” Ms. Hildebrand said.
With the help of a great group of kids, the catering class is just one huge act of hospitality that students give to our community.
