The art of cooking French dishes
and have fun!
French cuisine has been celebrated as one of the most exquisite culinary traditions in the world. It is known for its rich flavours, diverse ingredients, and meticulous cooking techniques. At SUIS Qingpu, students are given the unique opportunity to explore the world of French cuisine through an extra-curricular activity that focuses on cooking, cultural exchange, and charity work. This activity allows students to not only develop their cooking skills, but to also expand their understanding of French culture, collaborate with their peers, and give back to their community. In this article, we will delve deeper into this exciting extra-curricular activity and explore its many benefits for high school students.
French Cuisine for Teenagers
Cooking is an important life skill that can benefit students in many ways. By learning how to cook, students can gain a sense of independence, creativity, and responsibility. Moreover, cooking is a valuable way for students to explore different cultures and traditions and broaden their horizons beyond their own cultural boundaries. French cuisine is especially advantageous for students to explore, as it is known for its intricate techniques and diverse flavours. By learning how to cook French dishes, students can develop their culinary skills, learn about French culture and history, and experiment with new ingredients and flavours. French cuisine also emphasizes the importance of presentation and aesthetics, which can help students develop their artistic sensibilities and attention to detail. Overall, exploring French cuisine through cooking can be an exciting and enriching experience for high school students, helping them to develop important life skills and broaden their cultural knowledge.
Ms. Alice and Mr. Guillaume bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the French cuisine extra-curricular activity. Their collaboration ensures that the students are getting a well-rounded and comprehensive experience that combines the cultural and linguistic aspects of French cuisine with the practical skills needed to cook and present it.
Ms. Alice, SUIS Qingpu’s French teacher, has a deep understanding of French culture and history, as well as a strong knowledge of the French language. Her expertise in French cuisine ensures that the students are getting an authentic experience and learning the essential techniques required to cook French dishes. Additionally, her language skills allow her to incorporate the French language into the activity, helping the students to develop their language skills and understand the cultural significance of the dishes they are cooking.
Mr. Guillaume, the Design and Technology (D&T) teacher, brings a different skillset to the activity. His expertise in D&T ensures that the students are not only learning how to cook French cuisine, but also how to present it in an aesthetically pleasing way. He can provide valuable insights on plating and presentation, as well as practical advice on kitchen safety and hygiene. His skills in design also allow him to help the students create a visually appealing cookbook that can be sold for charity.
Un Croque Monsieur
– just as an example
During the activity, the students were taught how to make a classic French dish, the croque monsieur.
They began by making the béchamel sauce from scratch, which involved melting butter in a saucepan, adding flour to create a roux, and gradually adding warm milk while stirring constantly.
Once the sauce was smooth and thick, the students added grated cheese and nutmeg to create a delicious flavour.
Next, the students assembled the sandwiches by layering slices of ham and cheese between two slices of bread.
They then spread the béchamel sauce on top of the sandwiches and sprinkled more cheese on top.
The sandwiches were then grilled in a pan until the cheese was melted and bubbly.
By following the step-by-step recipe, the students learned essential French cooking techniques such as making a roux and creating a creamy sauce. They also learned about the importance of presentation and how to properly assemble and grill the sandwiches. Overall, the croque monsieur recipe provided an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about French cuisine and develop their cooking skills.
Cooking with
Local Ingredients
One of the unique aspects of the French cuisine extra activity is the focus on cooking with local ingredients. While the students are learning about French cuisine, they are also encouraged to use locally sourced ingredients to create their dishes. This not only promotes sustainability and supports local farmers but also introduces the students to new flavours and ingredients that they may not have encountered before. By cooking with local ingredients, the students are learning how to adapt French cuisine to the resources available in Shanghai and gaining a deeper appreciation of the connection between food, culture, and the environment.
In addition to cooking, another essential aspect of the French cuisine extra-curricular activity is photography. Students are encouraged to take photos of their dishes throughout the cooking process, as well as at the end, once their creations are plated and ready to be served.
They prepared a variety of backgrounds, lighting, and decorations to help showcase their dishes in the best possible way.
These photos will then be used to create a cookbook featuring the recipes taught during the activity. The students will work together to design and set the book, with each recipe accompanied by its own photo. The cookbook will be sold for charity, with proceeds going to support local organizations.
Not only will the students learn about French cuisine and cooking techniques, but they will also gain skills in photography, design, and teamwork. They will also have the satisfaction of knowing that their work is contributing to a worthy cause.
In addition to learning how to cook French cuisine, teenagers can also participate in a charitable initiative by creating a cookbook. The goal of the cookbook is to raise funds for a local charity or organization. We encourage teenagers to contribute their own recipes and provide tips on how to create a visually appealing and easy-to-follow cookbook. We discuss the importance of giving back to the community and how their efforts can make a difference, provide some ideas for organizations or charities that the proceeds from the cookbook could go towards, encourage teenagers to get creative with their recipes, and have fun with this activity!