Community Kitchen offers food, experience

St. Vital

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This article was published 05/06/2024 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In February, Louis Riel School Division’s Community Kitchen reopened at the René Deleurme Centre in St. Vital’s Lavallee School. The new kitchen replaces LRSD’s Bistro in the Park restaurant, which was located in Windsor Park. The Community Kitchen serves as a hub for engagement and is supported by groups such as Peak of the Market for weekly “food rescue” via donations of vegetables which are delivered in time for the variety of soups the class prepares.

Chef Michael Erin has been with the LRSD for 21 years and runs the new Community Kitchen. He began his career as a teacher at the division’s Arts and Technology Centre and then moved on to Bistro in the Park, where the staff were students gaining valuable experience with hands-on curriculum that often led to after-school work opportunities in the hospitality industry. The Community Kitchen serves as a training and educational facility, equipping students across the division with essential life and career skills. Additionally, it offers a range of kitchen and culinary programs for adults and volunteer opportunities for community members.

“I consider myself the middleman,” Erin says of his role at the Community Kitchen. “While I am an instructor, I am watching children with special needs to newcomers, transition to enjoying this experience. This is my biggest joy.”

The Community Kitchen sells ready-made and frozen meals to LRSD staff, students and local families, ranging from homemade lasagnas to shepherd’s pies, beef and vegetarian chilis, turkey pot pies, bannock, quesadillas, homemade soups, sauces, and more. Chef Michael says their extensive selection is comparable to M&M. Given two-weeks advance notice, full catering services are offered to any business willing to support this group of young chefs.

Interested students should visit lrsd.net for more information