OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — When it comes to learning how to cook, being hands-on is pretty important.
The Shawnee Mission School District wants to make sure its culinary students get the experience they need, even if they're at home in their own kitchen. Students would normally work alongside professional chefs. They get to learn tricks of the trade firsthand while running the Broadmoor Bistro.
Entrepreneurial Leadership Instructor Matt Ziegenhorn said instructors wanted to come up with a way to allow students the same hands-on experience now that they're learning from home.
"We wanted our kids to continue to keep cooking. Food provides nourishment and happiness," Ziegenhorn said.
Ziegenhorn said students are sent home with food kits and asked to get creative.
"We give them the basics to prepare a meal for their family, so we're sending home a meal for a family of four," Ziegenhorn said.
Students are asked to share their work on social media and talk about their recipes in Zoom sessions.
Shawnee Mission West sophomore Victoria Major said learning from home comes with a learning curve.
"I have to verbally talk more and communicate better because they're not actually here to show me how to do it with my hands," Major said.
The school district is also partnering with C&C Produce to provide mystery kits for students to use in their recipes.
"It's always a benefit anytime that you can help the next generation of chefs or the next generation of people that are going to be using the produce," general manager Nick Conforti said.
