The culinary club is a real tease.
When students walk by room 301, the cooking room where the culinary club takes place, the smells of new foods will often be wafting through the air, invading their sense of smell. Stomachs may grumble and mouths may water, and the question, “Why don’t I join this club?” may float in the heads of those passerby students.
Seniors Shelbi Pincence and Julia Sorrel and junior Hannah Donahue enjoy getting the chance to create new foods during culinary club.
The culinary club, which has been running for the past four years, is made up of about 15 to 20 members who cook food together after school every other Wednesday. Students attend just to have fun or if they are interested in a career in the culinary field.
“I love to cook, and I want to be a chef when I grow up, so it is a good experience for me,” freshman Alyssa Vaillancourt said. “And it’s a ton of fun.”
Culinary club adviser and FACS teacher Mrs. Gonyea said the good thing about the club is that there is “no expense to the students, it’s open everyone and is always fun.”
“I want it to be successful and for everyone to have a good time,” Gonyea said.
Gonyea said she tries to “make every year a little different and a little better from the last.”
“I try to make it what the students want it to be,” Gonyea said.
Gonyea listens to the suggestions students have, so whenever students want to do something, she tries to make it happen. Next semester she will be bringing in guest chefs once again, so students can learn from the professionals.
Junior Sarah DePasquale said one of the reasons she likes the culinary club is because “Mrs.Gonyea’s the best.”
“And I really enjoy making food outside of cooking class,” DePasquale said.
Junior Hannah Donahue uses a professional Kitchenmaid mixer to prepare a dish in culinary club.
Each meeting has a different theme, so the members get the chance to cook a variety of foods throughout the year. Themes in the past have been Halloween, Superbowl, Valentine’s Day or a season such as fall.
But this club is not just about eating good food. They also give back to the community by doing things like baking muffins for the Veteran’s Day breakfast.
“Cooking new things and eating them with my best friend and sister is my favorite part about the club,” Vaillancourt said.
Gonyea said she “absolutely loves” seeing new students join the club.
“It’s such a nice group,” Gonyea said. “It’s also a good opportunity for students who might not be able to take a foods class to have time to cook.”
Emily Georgakopoulos
Jan 15, 2016 at 2:51 pm
I’m glad to see this club is doing so well!