The CGH Earth Group held an unusual event: a two-week cooking camp for children.
Working at their very own work stations, complete with an induction stove, to avoid exposure to fire hazards from normal stoves, the students were taught to identify ingredients and to conjure up a wide range of dishes, like Indonesian chicken fry, Mexican Tacos, as well as classic recipes like Nadan beef olathu, in addition to baking and cake icing.
The techniques of cooking and good nutrition, food styling and presentation, avoiding use of preservatives, how to retain freshness, different types of soups and eggs preparations, salad dressings, like mayonnaise, baking thin crust pizzas, pasta and sandwiches, with duck, and caramelised onion, were taught.“I was afraid of knives, but Chef Dominic Joseph [of Casino Hotel] taught me how to cut carrots into small cubes,” says eight-year-old Miriya.
Making chocolate cake, passion fruit and salted caramel molded chocolates are what 11-year-old Anouska described as her favorite moments.
“We took the children to our organic farm and kitchen at Marari Beach and taught them how to make yummy smoothies, with strawberry, pineapple, honey, papaya and salads,” says Chef Dominic. “Teaching them was an invigorating experience.”
For Miriya it was refreshing to cook outside for a change. Apart from Chef Dominic, who is an alumni of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Ajeeth Janardanan, executive chef, Brunton Boatyard, and other chefs from the CGH Earth group provided training to a group of 35 children, between the ages of 10 and 15 years.
The grand finale was a fun-filled night, where the parents and friends of all the Junior Chefs were invited over for dinner. And the meal was planned, prepared and executed by the youngsters. It was a three-course meal, which included chick peas fitters, honey-glazed beet salad, Thai chicken curry and chocolate pastry with salted caramel frosting.
Reeni, the mother of Aishwaraya, who attended the dinner, says, “It was good to see her develop so much passion for cooking and, of course, to see the kids working together as a team.”
“My daughter was thrilled,” says Nandakumar, Miriya’s father.
Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Madhavika Varma, and Miriya Joseph were declared the winners and are now CGH Earth’s Junior Master Chefs. These little chefs will soon appear at CGH Earth’s Kochi Junior Super Chef show which will be aired soon on television. Incidentally, the CGH Earth Group has tied up with Soulfull, an organisation which makes organic food.