Culinary boot camp brings foodservice staff up to speed

Food services staff from Caroline and Dorchester public schools participated in a Culinary Boot Camp at North Caroline High School from July 21-23.

The culinary program was hosted by the state Department of Education’s Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs. The goal of the project is to help implement recent changes in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The culinary boot camp trained about 20 food service workers.

“The two biggest things to come out of this camp is that folks start looking at food quality from the time it is procured to the time it is served to the child and every step in between,” said Stew Eidel, of the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs. “The second is that they gain confidence in the skills that they have and the skills they learn during the camp.”

On Thursday, July 23, Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder, a lifelong farmer now based in Caroline County, stopped by the culinary camp and spoke with the food service workers.

“This is an important aspect of preparation,” Bartenfelder said. “One of the big things we’ve had going with the Maryland Department of Agriculture has been to make sure that food is always handled safely in the food chain as it goes from farmer to table. The most important step is to always rinse it off. I think you have done a good job. We grow a lot of great produce in Caroline and Dorchester counties. You all certainly do a great job promoting serving local and fresh produce.”

Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent John Ewald joined Bartenfelder for the visit.

“Nutrition for our kids is just as important as their academic excellence,” Ewald said. “We want to make sure they are getting healthy, nutritious meals every day.