Kitchen Educational

When I was a junior in high school, I moved to Valencia, Spain, as an exchange student through the Rotary Youth International Exchange Program. It was singularly the most beneficial experience of my life thus far as it taught me so much more than any traditional classroom was ever able to. I distinctly remember going with my host grandfather to his orange orchard and almond grove to harvest. Never have I tasted an orange so perfect or enjoyed a Marcona so salty and pure as when I was 16 and in those fields. Learning how the oranges closest to the bottom of the tree generally over ripen and by rolling them around in your hands you can simply rip a piece of the skin off and drink right from the fruit a ruddy, almost syrupy juice was an ethereal experience. Cracking my first almond open against two rocks was enlightening.
Education beyond the classroom was essentially what brought me to this restaurant. I believe wholeheartedly that people should be judged by the number of dishes they have washed, not just proverbially but literally as well. To that end, my recent involvement with the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School's Culinary Arts program resulted in a great meeting this morning at the restaurant. I invited 10 students into the restaurant for an impromptu session where we discussed everything from resume writing to playlist creation. These kids are so smart! It was so mind-blowing to me to see a group so diverse connect so fully through the medium of food. They all cook together, serve their faculty in their restaurant located above the cafeteria, and several of them even work in restaurants right here in Cambridge as stages (apprentices). Typically these students would probably never even have spoken to one another let alone become teammates as it were. The comraderie is palpable when they are together. On the other hand, however, there is a distinct rivalry looming that I felt as soon as I showed them the kitchen. They were all vying for an imaginary position in my kitchen that didn't even exist. Very much indictative of kitchen life and they barely have any experience outside of their own school kitchen. But that's precisely the point: regardless of the kitchen being located within their school it is still a world to which they can escape. Sure they attend regular classes like all the other kids, but they have the haven of their kitchen to resort to. It is there that they gain their strength. And their conviction to the art of food gives me strength and confidence that this industry will continue to grow as the tastes of young people continue to grow as well.