Charles Dalton with Alyssa Johns, Phaedra Osborn and Millie Kau deciding on the proper amount of masa for each tamale.
— by Madie Murray — In preparation for Charles Dalton’s (The Kitchen) day as Celebrity Chef at School on January 15, the 7th and 8th grade Culinary Arts kids all pitched in to help make hundreds of fresh, delicious chicken tamales – more than twice the amount Charles thought they could make in the two hours allotted.
Before the break for the holidays, under the watchful eye and leadership of Charles, they learned how to soften the corn husks, prepare the masa and chicken, fill and wrap the tamales. It was very festive and a great team effort. When done, the students got to sample their work.
Ivan Bullock and Kellen Maier finishing up the chicken.
Several asked how much Charles was being paid for coming to the school to do this. When told by Paula Towne, who was leading the class, that he didn’t get any money but just did it as a gift to the school and community, they were very surprised. This will be the fourth time Charles has been a Celebrity Chef at school and working with students teaching them how to make what he would be serving.
Last year, Charles taught Mandy Randolph’s K-6 Farm to Classroom kids how to make sushi. A week after that visit when he was our Celebrity Chef at lunch, he broke the record for the number of lunches ever served in our school cafeteria at 325. That record was recently broken by Madden Surbaugh of New Leaf, so Charles is hoping to get back on top by beating his record of 352!
In anticipation of many coming to lunch that day, the school is preparing for a crowd. Community members who do not have kids in the school are asked to come between noon and 1 p.m. when most of the kids have been served and on their way back to class. It will be quieter and roomier and there will be plenty of food for you, we promise!
The menu will be, of course, those wonderful tamales, black bean chili with salsa and sour cream, rice, and Charles’s special chocolate pudding. Cost is still just $5 for adults and that includes a trip to the salad bar and a beverage. Mark your calendar for January 15th. Charles is counting on you!
Sounds wonderful! Thank you, Charles and Madie, for making the celebrity chef program so successful.
Will there be veg tamales too?
We always do have a vegetarian option at every lunch served, but I’m checking to make sure exactly what it will be and will let you know. Thanks for asking!!