(Brockville) – Brockville Collegiate Institute (BCI) students and staff were treated to an authentic French bistro experience last week, thanks to the students in one grade 9 applied French class whose culminating project was to create a classroom-based bistro called “Café Parisien.”

With the help and guidance of Buell St. Bistro chef Marc Hardy, the 21 students prepared and cooked a three-course meal for students and staff in two other grade 9 French classes. The meal included a choice between a fruit cocktail or hot chocolate, a green salad with vinaigrette or garlic bread with brie, stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli or autumn vegetables with rice, and a crepe stuffed with strawberries and chocolate whipped cream or crème caramel.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Hardy helped the students choose the menu, order ingredients and supply dishes and storage, as well as taught them correct food preparation techniques. On Thursday and Friday, he helped students cook the food in the school’s foods classroom which was then served to one French class a day in the staff room. Earlier in the week, students decorated the staff room to transform it into a bistro. They prepared background music and decorated the walls and tables with photos from Paris, streamers, handmade menus and paper flower centrepieces.

Each student was assigned to be a greeter, kitchen staff member or a server, and was required to practice proper restaurant etiquette and communicate using French vocabulary learned in class.

Teacher Andrea Wright said her ongoing goal is to offer class projects and activities that the students can relate to. In their last unit, students learned about French fashion and their final project was to create a fashion show.

“Through activity-based learning, I want the students to gain a better appreciation of the French culture and experience the fun in learning,” she said. “With this project, students may now be able to go to a French restaurant and know what to order.”

Wright said she couldn’t have offered such an authentic bistro experience without the help of Hardy and the volunteer time from retired BCI teacher Suzanne Keyes.

“When I asked Marc to help I just wanted some ideas of what to make,” Wright said. “I wasn’t expecting this of him. Our menu was far beyond what I expected. He has years of catering experience and has been very student-oriented and patient.”

Hardy was pleased to offer his expertise for the first time in a school setting.

“I hope the students learn a bit about food, flavours and language,” he said. “[I hope this] opens them up to gain some confidence and not be afraid to speak the language.”

Grade 9 student Brooklyn Gibson said she liked learning about the French language and food all in one unit.

“I’ve learned how to make crepes, how to stuff chicken and how to cut vegetables,” she said. “I think this is cool because I’ve never really done anything like this before.”

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For more information please call:

Andrea Wright

Secondary Teacher

Brockville Collegiate Institute

613-345-5641

andrea.wright@ucdsb.on.ca

Posted December 17, 2009