The Chefs of Il Moro Ristorante and State Institute for Food and Wine Services and Hospitality A. Olivetti in Monza
Cooking class for children
Playful Cuisine and Gastronomic Education
Introduction
Chefs Salvatore and Vincenzo Butticè, known for their restaurant Il Moro in Monza and for their involvement with the State Institute for Food and Wine Services and Hospitality A. Olivetti, have embarked on a unique mission: to bring children closer to cooking through the children’s cooking course, a playful cooking course. This initiative not only teaches culinary techniques, but also promotes greater food awareness and a positive relationship with food.
The First Cooking Classes
The Butticè Chefs have gained specific teaching skills over the years with very young children and in 2010, they began to hold amateur cooking courses aimed mainly at adults. These courses were immediately very successful, often selling out. In 2023, they decided to also address children, organizing a cooking class with individual lessons involving children between the ages of 9 and 13.
Experience with Children
The lessons held with the children proved to be particularly fruitful. The presence of the parents created a child/parent couple dynamic that made the experience more engaging. The children showed considerable attention and interest, asking technical questions and demonstrating a particular sensitivity towards the origin of the ingredients and the agri-food chain.
Objectives of Recreational Cuisine
One of the main goals of cooking classes for children is to address the difficulty that many of them have in consuming vegetables. Using the bright colors of plant-based ingredients, chefs create attractive dishes such as sweet and savory biscuits and breads, thus overcoming the food taboos related to the plant world. This approach helps children perceive food more positively and appreciate the variety of flavors.
Gastronomic Education: Challenges and Solutions
Butticè chefs have found a significant criticality: current generations tend to reduce food to simple perceptions of sweet and savory, ignoring the complexity of the taste experience. With a playful and experiential approach, they are teaching children to recognize and appreciate even the bitter and acidic notes of the ingredients, using ingredients such as cocoa mass and yogurt.
Children’s Favorite Preparations
Children show a predilection for the preparation of cookies, burgers, candies and snacks. These dishes, in addition to being fun to prepare, allow you to introduce healthy ingredients in a creative and captivating way that are useful for the success of the children’s cooking class.
Upcoming Cooking Classes for Kids
The next cooking course for children will be held from 1 to 5 July at the A. Olivetti State Professional Institute for Food and Wine Services and Hospitality in Monza. The lessons will involve 12 children aged between 9 and 13 and will take place from 9:00 to 13:00.
The themes
The program includes the preparation of dishes such as salmon burger with spinach bread and caramelized onion, polenta and rice with vegetables, colorful biscuits, cod “Capitan” and fresh pasta with the colors of the Italian flag.
The courses will be held at the State Institute for Services for Food and Wine and Hospitality “A.Olivetti” Monza Via Lecco 12.
The courses are organized by Ristorante Il Moro , Via Parravicini 44, Monza. For info- 3929394187 – info@ilmororistorante.it
Conclusion
The initiative of chefs Salvatore and Vincenzo Butticè of Il Moro Ristorante in collaboration with the A. Olivetti State Professional Institute of Monza is an excellent example of how cooking can become an educational and playful tool for children. Through these courses, not only are culinary techniques taught, but greater gastronomic awareness is also promoted, educating the new generations to a healthier and more positive relationship with food.
Il Moro and children’s cooking classes
