What’s cooking in culinary? Why food cuisine classes are beneficial

By Meghan Runte

McNicholas High School currently has three cooking classes: Culinary Chemistry, Food Science, and French Culinary. The courses are taught by French teacher, Mrs. Ellen Bungenstock, and science teacher Ms. Jessica Mueller.

Mueller said students should take one of these classes because it “allows students to learn something they will use for the rest of their life.”

She shared that in culinary chemistry, students are currently learning about what chemical reactions take place in food. They recently worked with candy and learned how to balance equations.

To pick recipes, Mueller looks at how applicable the recipes are to the science they are learning, and the simplicity of the recipes.

Mueller said that she highly encourages students to take culinary courses because of the long-term benefits and applicable lessons.

Sophomore Morgan Taleff said she thinks French Culinary is “beneficial because even though I take French as my language, culinary allows me to learn more about the culture and gain cooking skills I will have for life.”

Freshman Audrey Krisko said that French Culinary is “an amazing class because it teaches you skills about cooking for your everyday life.”

Culinary French has made crepes with raspberry and blueberry compote, French omelets, and beef stew this year. Food Science made chicken wings and Culinary Chemistry experimented with candy.

Senior Amelia Engle added that Food Science is “very collaborative, which has allowed me to work with new people, make friends that I didn’t know before, and step out of my comfort zone.” She said she would recommend Food Science because it is “a nice break from an otherwise hectic or stressful school day where you get to relax and make fun dishes while also gathering cooking skills that you can use in the future.” Engle added that her favorite thing they have made this year is chicken wings.

Students in culinary classes often take the food they have made around the school to teachers and classmates, so that they can share what they have made.

All students can select French Culinary as an elective, however only juniors and seniors are permitted to take Food Science and Culinary Chemistry.

Next time the hallway smells delicious, consider what the culinary classes are learning while making their treats.