Last week students at Vermont Commons School (VCS) in South Burlington celebrated the end of exams and the start of the second semester by participating in the Winter Encounter Week program. These students spent their Encounter Week in the kitchen, learning from local chefs who have a passion – and a talent for cooking with local foods. The cooking class featured a visit from Eric Warnstedt, executive chef and owner of Hen of the Wood restaurant in Waterbury. "I’m so excited that VCS students had a chance to work with Eric," said Jordan Romm, director of development at VCS and organizer of the cooking class. Warnstadt was voted one of the top 10 new chefs by Food & Wine Magazine in 2008, and he is committed to showcasing the freshest food from local growers who practice environmentally-sound agriculture."That’s a really important message to convey to our students," explained Romm.

Students also worked with David Hugo, food service manager and chef at the Inn at Shelburne Farms. They also visited American Flatbread in Waitsfield where owner George Schenk shared his culinary skills and extensive political work to promote local and organic foods in the state of Vermont and throughout the U.S. "We were psyched to work with George again this year," says Romm. "He’s passionate about encouraging healthy and positive relationships between kids and the food they eat."

This is the second year that Romm has offered an Encounter Week focused on cooking. "I love to cook," says Romm, "and I want to encourage students to get into cooking good, local food — especially boys." This year seven of the nine VCS students enrolled in the cooking course are boys.

Local food is an ongoing theme this year at VCS. In the fall, the entire VCS community read "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" and devoted an entire day to learning about and sampling local foods. Next month, the Events Committee at VCS is launching a Localvore Dinner Series featuring guest speakers, student presentations, and a four-course meal at local restaurants committed to serving local foods. To learn more about the Localvore Dinner Series, please visit the VCS Web site at www.vermont commons.org/dinner-series. The public is invited to attend.