To promote Spanish culture and cuisine, I invited in Chef Efraín Martínez, CIA graduate, cooking instructor, cookbook author and owner of Al-Andaluz Catering in Kingston for a widely-popular afterschool event.
Chef “Ef” gave a hands-on Spanish immersion cooking class to thirty students in grades 9-12. Typical Sevillana music played in the background while he gave a wonderful presentation. It began with a discussion of the history of Spanish cuisine and the dishes that come from the various regions of that country. Students were then invited to assist Chef Ef in his very professional and precise preparation of paella, which is a regional dish from Valencia. While the paella was cooking, he answered students’ questions and showed some basic Sevillana dance steps. Once the food was ready, students lined up for generous portions. Some even returned for seconds and thirds, exclaiming how delicious it was!
The next day my students’ enthusiasm for Chef Ef was heard throughout all of my five classes, as they reported to classmates what they had learned and enjoyed most about his presentation.
~ Annie Gallin