<\/p>\n
Now in its second year, the Montezuma-Cortez High School catering program\u2019s schedule is filling up quickly, instructor Kanto McPherson said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Students in the program provide catering services, mostly for school district events and nonprofits such as Pi\u00f1on Project, McPherson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really growing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
This year, 86 students enrolled in catering classes, and the program added a second session of Catering 2, she said.<\/p>\n
The 65 students in Catering 1 learn about the basics, such as kitchen safety and the major food groups. The 21 students in Catering 2 break into groups of three to cook recipes throughout the year, and cater to different groups. Any profit goes back into the program to buy ingredients, McPherson said.<\/p>\n
With the increased number of students taking the classes this year, the program is experiencing some growing pains in the classroom-size catering room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a challenge, but it\u2019s what we have, and it\u2019s beautiful,\u201d McPherson said of the kitchen and stainless-steel equipment.<\/p>\n
McPherson said teaching students the business side of a restaurant, such as how to manage income and a budget, is important, and that some students have gained internships at local restaurants.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to give students real-world experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
This month, students have been cooking beef, McPherson said. A grant from the Colorado Beef Council allowed the class to fill the freezer with almost a whole cow, she said, allowing students to learn how to cook various cuts of beef.<\/p>\n
Junior Quentina Blueeyes is the head chef for one of the Catering 2 classes. She said she plans to go to college to become a chef after she graduates from high school.<\/p>\n
Blueeyes said cooking is therapeutic, and the class makes her excited about coming to school each day.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to have a big passion and a lot of patience,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior Deidra Goodall said she took the class because she likes to cook and it\u2019s a fun class.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can cook whatever you want,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
International cuisine is a favorite among students, McPherson said. Native American students have taught classmates how to cook frybread and Navajo tacos.<\/p>\n
McPherson has a passion for health and nutrition, and she said it\u2019s fulfilling to see her students learn new things in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love to see students leave and have the knowledge to be able to feed their families,\u201d McPherson said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
McPherson is exploring offering a family cooking class for the community through Cooking Matters, a La Plata County nonprofit. Families would learn how to cook fast, affordable and healthy meals to eat together, she said.<\/p>\n
McPherson said she would like to see the kitchen opened up for community members to use for cooking in the future. The kitchen is a valuable resource for students and community members and has lots of potential, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will continuously grow,\u201d McPherson said. \u201cI have high hopes for where it will be in five years.\u201d<\/p>\n