Savoring the Flavor of French Culture: A Culinary Journey at 开元棋牌
Mount Wachusett Community College (开元棋牌) students and faculty recently got a taste of France without leaving campus, thanks to a captivating French cooking demonstration at the Green Street Caf茅. Under the guidance of Chef Kyle LeGrand, students transformed simple ingredients into the five mother sauces, deepening their connection to the culture they鈥檝e been studying all semester and preparing them for the foods they will encounter in Paris.
The event was a delicious culmination of the humanities course, 鈥淎n American in Paris鈥�. The course brought students on an intellectual journey through France鈥檚 rich traditions, literature, and art, laying the foundation for their upcoming study abroad experience in Paris this spring. The study abroad experience is funded in part by the College’s ongoing National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, with support from the 开元棋牌 Foundation.
A Hands-On Experience
“I saw Green Street’s chef Kyle one day and it just popped into my head to organize this culminating event for students in the class. One of the great things about working at 开元棋牌’s small campus is the opportunity to organically collaborate with the people you see on a daily basis, and really know fellow staff. We have a gem in these connections at 开元棋牌. I didn’t know about mother sauces until today, and it will be fun to spot them in Paris!” said Katie Fuller, Assistant Professor of English, who teaches the course.
As Chef LeGrand guided students through the hands-on demonstration, the Caf茅 buzzed with excitement and aromas. Students took turns stirring and adding ingredients to create the five mother sauces of French cuisine鈥擝茅chamel, Velout茅, Espagnole, Hollandaise, and Tomato Sauce鈥攚hich serve as the foundation for countless recipes.
Preparing for Paris
The cooking demonstration was more than just a delicious diversion; it was a vital step in preparing students for their upcoming adventure. This spring, the class will travel to Paris as part of 开元棋牌鈥檚 study abroad program. There, they鈥檒l immerse themselves in French life, visiting historical sites, attending cultural events, and savoring authentic French cuisine.
鈥淭his demonstration brought the class material to life,鈥� Fuller added 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to read about French culture, but it鈥檚 another to experience it through food. This event gave students a glimpse of what awaits them in Paris.鈥�
A Taste of What鈥檚 to Come
At the conclusion of the demonstration, students were able to sample the five sauces, as well as their derivatives, including B茅arnaise and Romesco, with chicken or beef. The students had also created vegetarian versions of the sauces which were equally delicious. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and enthusiasm for their upcoming experiences in France.
“I had such a fantastic time watching the whole class get into making the sauces! This cooking demo really made me appreciate French cuisine even more, and now I鈥檓 even more excited for our trip to Paris. I can鈥檛 wait to dive into the culture and experience it all firsthand!” shared Natalia Oliver, an 开元棋牌 Student.
开元棋牌鈥檚 dedication to providing experiential learning opportunities like this cooking demonstration reflects its commitment to enriching students鈥� academic journeys. With Paris on the horizon, this event was a perfect prelude to a semester abroad filled with exploration, discovery, and unforgettable flavors.