Maine Culinary Classroom Aims To Inspire Healthy School Food

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine is launching a new culinary classroom that will stream live cooking classes in hopes of inspiring healthy meals in Maine schools.The Maine Department of Education is hosting an open house Tuesday in Augusta.
 
The culinary classroom features the ability to stream, record and host live audiences for demonstrations. Resident chefs will provide additional training to local food service staff.  
 
The classroom replicates the kitchens found in Maine public schools and will include commercial ovens, cook tops and other commercial equipment commonly used in school meal preparation.  
 
The education agency's spokespeople say that upcoming classes are set to include: knife skills and maintenance, preparing summer squash, measuring techniques, using USDA foods effectively, and vegan options.  
 
The kitchen will also host an annual school cook-off contest.