Around the World!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be experiencing the cuisines of cultures from all over the globe – all without leaving our kitchens right here in DC. It’s amazing how food can transport us through our senses, and we’re in for quite a journey of cooking and tasting new and unfamiliar foods together. Though we may not be jet-setting or cruising to faraway lands, our students are plenty adventurous. They’ve already tasted lamb for the first time (in Greek tzatziki sliders) and braved the fiery hot Scotch-Bonnet (in a Jamaican rice dish), and they're ready to keep trying new foods!

Before beginning our unit on international cooking, we had a brainstorm session to decide which regions or countries we wanted to focus on.  The students were so excited to share their preferences they thought of many more ideas than we can fit into one spring season. They suggested cooking foods from all over the world, listing countries ranging from Indonesia to Australia and specific recipes ranging from macarons to sushi. With only a couple of months left until graduation, we had to vote and narrow it down, so only the top countries made the cut.  I found myself wishing we had a whole year of Brainfood dedicated to international cooking!

To start the international foods unit, I asked my Kitchen All Stars class an open question:

“Why learn to cook international foods?”

One student raised her hand and suggested, “To spice up your life! Eat new things!”

Another chimed in, “We’ll learn more skills in the kitchen!”

Still another grinned as we said,  “So when we travel to that place we know what to order, of course!”

And another offered, “It’s a way to learn about the culture!”

I couldn’t have said it better. There are so many good reasons to cook foods from other countries, and Kitchen All Stars students are clearly well aware of them!

Brainfood students are not only becoming confident chefs, but also adventurous eaters, prepared world travelers, and cross-cultural learners. It’s an exciting time to be at Brainfood, and I can’t wait to keep exploring the world through food with these amazing students!