INdulge!
VOL.5 ISSUE 88 • JULY 5, 2012
EDGEDAVAO
Fresh out of the oven! FOOD
By Carlo P. Mallo
Last month, thousands of students started their lives anew as freshmen in their respective tertiary educational institutions. There were different ways of welcoming the freshmen into their new homes for the next four years, but none quite like what Ichef had in store for its new students.
Inspired by her experience during her study abroad, Nicole Hao-Bian, vice president for Educational Development of the JIB Group of Schools and Companies, initiated a new way of welcoming their first year students through a cook fest. The whole school, yes, all students, faculty, and administrators, gathered one afternoon to cook a giant 9 square meter pizza! Who knew that the ingredients of the pizza actually stand for something? When I asked the students about it, they said that the pizza ingredients stand for the following: THE DOUGH. It represents as a base or foundation. We all need a good foundation to hold on to as we all hone and enhance our skills further in our profession. THE SAUCE. It serves as a binding agent. We, as chefs, need to work hand in hand together to produce quality meals. THE CHEESE. It represents flavor, like all good cheeses, as it ages, it gives more flavor. As we mature as chefs, must also create our own flavors. THE BELL PEPPER. It represents spice or tenacity. We must have great tenacity
in cooking so we can have the will and inspiration to cook great meals. THE PINEAPPLE. Its eyes represent guidance of our chef trainers as they mold us to be better chefs. THE BEEF. It denotes harmonious state in love and business. As students, we’re not only trained to cook but also we’re trained to run our own business. Making the pizza as a team symbolizes the unity of Ichef on working towards success. Like making pizza delicious, so as making the taste of success delicious more than it should be Baking the pizza entails patience. Patience indeed is a virtue. And as the adage goes, all good things come to those who wait. While waiting for the pizza to cook in the oven, the students had a blast sharing their talents in singing and dancing. And mind you, they can dance.
That afternoon reminded me of all the jitters, excitement, and cheek-blushing moments during one’s freshman year. Seeing your crush down the hallway, entering the wrong classroom, not knowing anyone in class, or wearing the school uniform on a wash day! Oh, how I miss what it’s like to be back in school. To the freshmen, good luck and do well in school. For the meantime, let’s have some more pizza!