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Culinary Arts Introduction

Course Length:

One semester

Course Description:

Thinking of a career in the food service industry or looking to develop your culinary skills? Explore basic cooking and knife skills while preparing you for entry into the culinary world. Discover the history of food culture, food service, and global cuisines while learning about food science principles and preservation. Prepare for your future by building the professional, communication, leadership, and teamwork skills that are crucial to a career in the culinary arts.

Prerequisites:

Although this is an introductory course, it is an intensive introduction to the subject.

Comprehensive Syllabus:  

http://mtda.link/culinaryarts

Required Materials:

Students will need access to the following:

  • A friend and/or family member to help act out scenarios in videos
  • Props for Videos (fake items may be subbed for real ones):
    • First-aid tools and materials (band-aids, gauze, ointment, antiseptic, etc.)
    • Plastic knife, butter knife, or basic dinner knife
    • Food items to practice knife skills on like chilled sticks of butter, potatoes, etc.
    • Kitchen with appliances like a sink, stove, refrigerator, etc.
    • Pots and pans for washing demonstration
    • Four boxes or buckets to use as sinks
    • Dishwasher or an item to stand in for a dishwasher
    • Chemicals used for dishwasher cleaning (or pictures of them)
    • Meat thermometer
    • Gloves, hair restraints, closed-toe shoes, apron, etc. – all for demonstrating proper kitchen hygiene
    • Various foods to use in video demonstration of dry heat and moist heat cooking methods
    • Salad and salad dressing ingredients
    • Vegetable and starch ingredients
    • Cold cooking tools

Supplies for the cooking labs: 

  • A medium-size skillet
  • A flat spatula
  • A gas or electric range
  • 4 large flour tortillas
  • 16 oz shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups)
  • 1 cup sliced green chilies
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • Sour cream and/or guacamole for toppings (optional) Kitchen mixer
  • 7 egg whites
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • 14 Tbsp sugar
  • Medium-size frying pan
  • Tongs
  • Spoon
  • Paper towel
  • Knife
  • Gas or electric range
  • 1 chicken breast and thigh with skin on
  • 6 Tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 oz vegetable oil (1/4 cup)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh shrimp (any size)

Specific Technical/Software Requirements in Addition to General Requirements:

  • Computer with:
    • Internet access
    • Word processing program
    • Slideshow presentation program
  • Video recording device

Please review the general original credit software requirements at http://mtda.link/techreq

Course Availability (subject to resource and teacher availability):

This course has limited enrollment availability and is first-come, first-serve. This limit is firm.

Fall: semester available
Spring: semester available
Summer: not available

Lead Teacher:

Lorie Martinez, Columbus High School, lorie.martinez@montanadigitalacademy.org

PLEASE SEE YOUR LOCAL COUNSELOR TO REGISTER FOR MTDA COURSES