2015

Walt's Look Around: ECCC Culinary Class

Posttd Stp 10. l015548PMCST Updottd. ~p 11, 2015 l:JS Al.I CST Posted by Walt Grayson

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DECATUR, MS (Mississippi News Now)- Our M1ss1ssipp1 system of Community Colleges was recently rated best in the nation by WalletHub, a national survey organization, and some of the type of classes offered could be big reason why. Of course you can major in everything from pre-med to theater in our community colleges. But I was invited to drop in on a particularly tasty class at East Cemral Community College 1n Decatur. 'We've prepared breakfast with little tea scones." a student told me. "Some with just plain plum jelly, others with apple wood bacon and cheddar cheese made out of red berry and yoghurt parfait with an almond granola on top and watermelon grape feta hors d'oeuvres for you." I'm not sure what all of that 1s but I picked up on the part that says 1t was •for mel' Chef Barry Karrh's culinary arts class at East Central Community College whipped up a little something that I would grade an A+ just to give us a taste, literally and figuratively, of what they can do rn this class. "'Ne have everything from students from the Choctaw Reservation to JUSt good all-purpose buck-wild old country kids.· said Chef Karrh. "Everyone of them comes to me wanting to own their own business and 1t takes me about six to eight weeks to conv nee them that 1s a really bad idea until they have leaned under someone else's tutelage and someone else's pocket book." In today's session they are making cheese with a couple of gallons of milk, some salt and some vinegar And depending on what you do with the curds and what you add to 1t and 1f you have time co age it, you can come up with all sorts of varieties of cheeses from JUst these basic steps. Chef Karrh says making stuff from scratch instead of p1ck1ng 1t up ready made at the score is a big part of the course. "In our world, everyone has to eat but not everyone can cook," added chef Karrh. "It's one of the few career fields that will be here as long as mankind 1n one this earth." With this particular class, the students are encouraged to go on and get an associates degree. But they can earn a certificate In culinary arts at several stages along the way so they can go ahead and pursue a career. There are lots of different career-minded classes covering many topics at our community colleges in Mississippi. That's one of the things that makes our system so good. But as far as being 'good' it would be hard to cop this course for tasty. In addition, this is the first college course that I am aware of that offers 'to go' boxes. Copynght 2015 M~NewsNow. All nghts reseNed.

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