Members of the 8th Artek session have been using an appetizing way to get acquainted with the cultures of foreign countries: through food. During a workshop titled Cuisines of the World the young cooks prepared such things as traditional American hamburgers and Mexican tacos. The event was not only fun but the food was tasty too, plus it also helped the participants get to know how diverse food can be on one continent.
Artek members from Mexico, Kyrgyzstan and Sweden were the first to show off their culinary skills. The international team of young cooks prepared national American food. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Of course, hamburgers! There is a stereotype that burgers are rather unhealthy, but at Artek, it doesn’t matter what is being prepared it can be done in a healthy way. Chef of the Preschool Catering Combine Konstantin Sorokin taught his young helpers how to turn popular fast food into something that is both nutritious as well as healthy: he used fresh ingredients, sauces made without any preservatives and he didn’t over season anything.
“We have never been to the US, but we had burgers, of course. Our moms are not happy about such food,” said Alla Sheveleva from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. “But now we have learned a simple and healthy way to prepare them and we will definitely spread the word to our relatives and friends pointing out that just because something tastes good it doesn’t have to mean that it’s unhealthy.”
“Our impressions are great,” added Nastya Kulagina from Bishkek. “What a nation’s food is like can tell people a lot about its history and traditions. It will help us and children from other countries understand each other and make friends.”
The youngsters saw that each nation combines and cooks the same products in their own sort of way. Mexican tacos are filled with meat, bread and vegetables just like hamburgers. But they are prepared and served completely differently and also have a distinct flavor.
Renata Gonzales and Anna Karen Gutierrez from Mexico said that the traditional tacos are served with salsa, and corn tortillas have more liquid added to them when they are being prepared so that they end up softer and lighter. But the Artek version of tacos was no less tasty. While cooking, the two girls said that they liked Russian patties the best, and also would like to prepare sushi, which is something very exotic for Mexicans.
Volunteer Karina Melik-Karamyants, student at the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, helped the children together with the chef find common ground. Karina noted that Spanish spoken by Mexicans differs from that which she is studying at her university. She also added that from a professional standpoint the experience she had gained in the process of immersing herself into a new language environment was rather useful.
The Cuisines of the World project will include six workshops where Artek children will learn the culinary traditions of various continents and also prepare iced traditional Artek cookies.
18.07.2019