Kids’ Burger Class by Loretta Douglas
Our burger class was the first ever Made From Scratch Kids’ Cooking Class and it was a big success. 23 eight to twelve year olds, supercute in oversize chef hats and aprons dragging on the ground, got to grind their own burgers, make their own buns, and make mayo and coleslaw from scratch. (Photo top is one of our cooking class kids holding up her recipe notebook.)
The kids met Gwen LeBlanc, our bread chef, for a dough lesson at the bread bakery behind Serious Pie. Many kids ended up head to toe in flour. Some of the buns were a little mis-shapen, but luckily we had back-ups.
The kids then walked back to Palace Kitchen and Chef Sean Hartley (in bottom photo) helped them to form patties and place them on the grill. They also made French fries (actually, I worked the fryer, but the kids filled the fryer baskets).
We also had a tasting contest of storebought mayo versus homemade mayo; fast food burgers versus their own burgers; and organic ketchup versus regular ketchup. Every single kid liked their own burgers better than fast food. Everyone liked the regular ketchup best, too; it’s sweeter. They also tried baked potato wedges versus French fries and lots of kids liked the baked potatoes better.
There are 3 more kids classes coming up. All are sold out, but if you want to you can contact us to get on the waiting list.
Editor’s note: Tom and Jackie’s daughter, Loretta, is helping out in the Tom Douglas Restaurants during her summer home from college. Made from Scratch Cooking Classes for Youngsters is one of her many projects.
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July 10th, 2009 at 8:02 am
What you are doing is absolutely wonderful! These kids are the fourth or fifth generation of Americans who, for the most part, don’t know how to cook. Due to lack of time and lack of knowledge, we’re losing our ability to fend for ourselves. The ramifications of this are troubling. Not only are we losing not only our ability to cook, and our culinary heritage, but we’re also losing our health. Bravo to you for helping to reverse that trend!