These 9 OHS students ate 40 tacos during Wednesday's tasting. They said, "add it!"
OHS students sampled a Mexican entree today, thanks to a partnership with the Indian Hills Culinary Department. Culinary students will provide a sample each month through the end of the year.
IHCC culinary students prepared pork asada on a corn tortilla with pico de gallo and salsa verde for today's sample. OHS students sampled the entree during their lunch period. This didn't replace the regular lunch meal already scheduled.
Each year, culinary students are required to do a project. This year, OHS is their project, according to Yvonne Johnson, Ottumwa's Director of Food Service. The purpose is to try new items that can potentially be added to the menu. The only stipulation is that items use commodity foods in creative ways. She also hopes to integrate more ethnic foods into school menus.
Students lined up for samples and from comments heard, the tasting was a success. One table of 9 boys devoured 40 of the pork asada tacos. Students will be surveyed after each tasting to see if the sample is something they want added to the permanent menu. "I'm looking forward to the future samples from the culinary students," said Johnson. If samples are incorporated into Ottumwa's food service program, "we will be working side-by-side with Indian Hills to add items to the menu," Johnson said.
