Updates from MVROP's Culinary Arts Course!

Updates from Mission Valley ROP's

Culinary Arts Course

Thank you for your continued support as an advisory member for Mission Valley ROP's Culinary Arts Course. We want to stay connected with you and look forward to upcoming collaborations in the near future.

Class Updates - Chef Mari Moschetti (Kennedy High School)

Chef Moschetti's class did an excellent job this school year with their annual Thanksgiving feast which featured all the traditional dishes of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, roasted veggies, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Culinary students looked very proud of their work and were excited to dig in and enjoy the delicious meal. Thank you Chef Moschetti and your amazing culinary students for making Thanksgiving extra special with the unforgettable feast.

Class Updates - Chef Jo Roberts (Bridgepoint High School)

Chef Roberts and her Culinary 1 students at Bridgepoint High School have grown in their knowledge and ability in Culinary Arts. The students were eager for their first cooking lab which involved cutting lot's of potatoes since "Cream of Potato Soup" was on the menu. Students obtained knife skills earlier that week while perfecting the art of cutting and dicing potatoes safely. The end results were impressive and delicious as all the students were able to indulge in "Cream of Potato Soup" with a variety of toppings to accompany the soup.

Students were busy making cupcakes and frosting from scratch in order to raise money for "Amazing Hearts", a ministry program that is focused on feeding the homeless. All proceeds from the bake sale went to provide food for the Thanksgiving Dinner for the homeless. The students loved the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate and were proud to use their culinary skills.

Right before the winter break, students enthusiastically worked in pairs, plotting and planning the design of their houses for a gingerbread house contest. They made the gingerbread dough, cut out their house using the template that was supplied, and baked their pieces. Students learned about royal icing and its purpose in the gingerbread house building process. On the last day before break, judging was in session. Thank you to Julie Calderon, Principal of Bridgepoint High School and Dr. Cliff Adams-Hart, Director of Educational Services at MVROP for taking the time to be a part of the festivities and helping to judge the winner. It was a memorable and fun time enjoyed by all.

Class Updates - Chef Craig Barnard (James Logan High School)

Students from Culinary II geared up for their big gig of catering breakfast for 300 teachers and all staff at Logan on December 21. The menu included caramel apple upside french toast, peppered bacon, winter fruit salad, hot mulled cider and cranberry-orange, and banana breads. Students were excited and proud of their efforts which did not go unnoticed. Staff at Logan were so impressed about the level of professionalism the students displayed under pressure and the quality of food they produced.

Culinary I students began their first round of quantity production cooking which Introduction to Hospitality prepared them for last year with skills such as how to read recipes and basic food production. In September, the idea of supporting needy families in Napa and Sonoma Valleys motivated them into baking snacks and cookies to be traded for donations from the student body. Over a four day period, a total of $1000.00 in gift cards for Lucky's, Target, and Walmart were raised and given directly to the families in need.

Just before Thanksgiving, thoughts of gratitude led to thoughts of giving back which stems from the culture at James Logan High School so the class decided to fund-raise for the needy. Students wanted to learn how to make the following items from scratch - pie pastry, apple filling, pumpkin custard filling, pumpkin bread, pumpkin donuts, and scones so that is what they baked up.

T hese items were then traded for donations from teachers, staff, and students. All proceeds received went to the Alameda County Food Bank, and boxes of baked goods went to South Hayward Parish food bank.

Mr. Barnard and his students have accomplished so much already and the school year is only half way over. We are so proud of their continued success in the classroom and the positive impact they have made to the less fortunate.

Get involved by hosting a field trip or come in the classroom and be a guest speaker.

For more information please contact Jacki Rosen at [email protected] .

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