When most students have thought about going to school, they probably thought of the boring math or history classes. Little did they know that there are 4 different classes all based around learning how to cook and making a career out of it.

At PLHS the culinary arts classes offered are Foods 1 and 2 which are both semester long and Prostart Culinary 1 and 2 which are both year long classes. Junior Leslie Hernandez-Cuevas and Seniors Abby Howell and JJ Connatser are all in the same cooking group in Prostart Culinary 1. In this class, they have learned how to make anything from the Vietnamese soup “pho” or even mini onion feta tarts. Although they learn a lot about cooking, they also learn a lot about how to work as a team.

“Cooking to me is a way to bring people together,” said Connatser.

Cooking can not only connect you to the people around you, it can also connect you to your ancestors who have passed on recipes from many different generations.

“My grandpa was a chef,” said Howell. “He showed me how to cook growing up.”

Learning to cook by a chef is something that not many people get to experience, but many people still have very good home cooks in their family.

“My mom always made enchiladas growing up,” said Hernandez. “They are super good and a comfort food to me.”

Not only can good food be a comfort, it can transport you to a different place. 

“Cooking has been a huge part of my life,” said Hernandez. “It connects me to my culture.” 

Cooking can connect you to your past but sometimes it’s the memories that are created while doing it.

“I like to make Italian sausage pasta,” said Howell. “Me and my friend Alex [Wright] make it all the time and it’s our bonding dish.”

Cooking means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To some, they love being connected to their culture, others love the bonding that comes with it. But some people just love the end product.

“I love taking this class because we eat a lot,” said Howell.

Whether it’s cooking, bonding, or eating, the culinary classes at PLHS never have a dull moment. So many memories have already been created with more to come.