Culinary Lunch and Urban Agriculture

The Education & Workforce Culinary Program laid out the fine tablecloths and silverware for some special guests when the Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture visited in September. The menu was a mix of Americana with some Italian elements, cooked to the quality of any establishment on Restaurant Row. There was skirt steak, meatballs in tomato sauce, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, a side salad, and focaccia. 

The Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, dedicated to connecting food, agriculture, community, and businesses with the aim of equity across the 5 boroughs and beyond, expressed interest in establishing a relationship with Education & Workforce. Their mission of helping create food access and economic opportunities resonates with our aim of investing in people and strengthening communities. Chef Diego, director of the culinary program and Soup’s Up is excited by the prospect for both of his programs alike: “As a whole, it’s going to be spectacular moving forward.” 

The culinary class and Chef Diego Biondi posing with the food they made

Back in the kitchen, the culinary students enjoyed the downtime by eating some of their delicious food and cleaning. “It was really satisfying to see what we cook come to fruition,” one of them said as they made a plate for themselves, “I definitely want to recreate the chimichurri steak sauce.” Back in the kitchen, the culinary students enjoyed the downtime by eating some of their delicious food and cleaning. “I definitely want to recreate the chimichurri steak sauce,” said one as they made a plate for themselves.  “It was really satisfying to see what we cook come to fruition.”