The cooking class is a new elective at Eaglebrook this year in our new dining hall. This ambition was made possible by the hard work of the construction workers and contributions from parents. The dining hall now has a wonderful new kitchen space with quality equipment. There is also a cooking classroom, where the cooking elective is held. The goal of the elective is to help students become familiar with kitchen equipment and gain independence. Both the kitchen and the cooking classrooms have sliding glass doors. This design aspect helps keep classroom spaces clean while also serving as windows through which others can see what the students are doing. “This inspires new students to try the new cooking elective,” said our cooking class teacher, Ms. Lien.

During the class, students learn about culinary safety, hygiene, and routine. They learn a variety of kitchen techniques, safety practices, and ways to avoid injury. They learn how to cut things with a knife, how to cook, and how to keep their workspace clean. For example, one of the fundamental skills we started with was basic cutting skills. We practiced this by cutting watermelon and other fruits. Then, we made Korean glass noodles and tiramisu. Students are researching new recipes we could make in the future. Most importantly, all of us were absolutely delighted when we finally got to taste the food we had worked so hard on and spent so much time on. All of which relates to one of the main concepts of Eaglebrook: Labor.

One of the major challenges of the cooking class is that the class period is short, leaving little time to tidy up and get to the dining hall. We divided each cooking class into 3 45-minute sessions, so we can prepare things ahead of time and have enough time to learn and cook. The new equipment also enhanced our efficiency. For example, our new smart induction stove significantly reduced cleaning time while also making the kitchen safer, since it won’t burn when you put your hands on it.

Overall, this new elective was a fresh experience, and all the students enjoyed it. We wish to make more delicious food under the guidance of Ms. Lien with our amazing kitchen! The