Culinary Arts gets a tasty competition going at TDHS
From North Wasco County School District:
By Stephanie Bowen
A little competition mixed with teamwork, creativity and innovation makes for a great learning environment.
This is the recipe for success in Ms. Julie McIntire’s culinary arts class at TDHS.
Last week, in the culminating event for McIntire’s 4th period Pies and Tarts class, students got a unique opportunity to build new skills as they vied for the honor of best pie. A highly sought-after honor at TDHS.
Students worked together in pairs to come up with creative concepts for their pie - taking into account both overall design and flavor. Pies of all varieties from berry to an ambitious meringue filled the room by the time the kitchen timers rang.
Each pie was carefully crafted by the students, taking care to make them their own. From an Easter theme to a solar system, each was as individual as its baker.
Top pies were chosen for multiple categories: most like their concept drawing, best-looking pie, and of course, flavor. Students also had an opportunity to hone their PR skills with a special category for best conversation, as judges had an opportunity to interact with the bakers and ask questions.
Students also took to Instagram to get their peers in on the voting process, a cherry pie adorned with an intricate sunflower design created by Grace Macnab & Jessica Huizar-Perez took the honor.
One pie, carefully crafted by Anika Brackenbury & Kai Semlor, took a different approach to the competition. Unlike their peers, the duo took a savory approach to the challenge, presenting a chicken pot pie to the panel of guest judges. Their ingenuity did not go unnoticed, and the team received both Best Looking Pie Design and Best Conversation.
In the end, the award for “Best Tasting” went to an ‘out of this world’ mixed berry pie crafted by TDHS Seniors, Taylor Bloomdahl and Makayla Williamson, that, quite frankly, would put grandma’s to the test.
Culinary Arts is just one of the various electives offered at The Dalles High School geared towards building technical skills, knowledge and career training. These courses are known as Career Technical Education, or CTE, and are popular among students. Culinary classes introduce students to a new set of skills that combine both nutrition and cooking techniques while giving them the opportunity to hone their interests and explore different career paths.
We look forward to seeing, and tasting, McIntire’s Breads and Doughs class next trimester.
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