Chef in the Classroom Benefit Breakfast

press release: On Saturday, March 4, REAP Food Group will partner with chefs Tory and Kristine Miller and Lisa Jacobson for a fundraising breakfast to support REAP's Chef in the Classroom program. Lisa Jacobson (The Mermaid Café), Kristine Miller (Dough Baby Bakery), and Tory Miller (Estrellon, L'Etoile, Graze, Sujeo) will team up with Sherman Middle School and East High School students, who participate in Chef in the Classroom, to prepare the meal.

This year's menu is (drum roll please):

• Tory Miller's shoyu ramen topped with soft-boiled egg, spinach, and mushrooms
• A breakfast bahn mi sandwich from Lisa Jacobson with Vietnamese-style pickled vegetables and a cilantro mayo
• A mini doughnut with spiced sugar from Kristine Miller

The dishes will have vegetarian options and showcase ingredients from local producers, including Jordandal Farms, Pecatonica Valley Farms, and Snug Haven Farm.

One of REAP's most popular programs, Chef in the Classroom brings accomplished Madison chefs into middle and high school culinary classes to teach students healthy, from scratch recipes. Participating students learn basic cooking techniques while building confidence in the kitchen and exploring new flavors. Through cooking, students learn about nutrition, sustainability, and future career possibilities. Recipes are often designed to be easily adjustable, encouraging students to bring their experiences home to share with their families.

"Chef in the Classroom has been great for the students to be able to work with a professional,

use fresh, local ingredients, and try dishes that are new to them," says Natalie Aguirre, a

Family/Consumer Education teacher at East High School. "I've seen many students go from

saying, 'I don't eat that vegetable' to saying, 'I usually don't like that vegetable, but I like it in

this dish.'"

The fundraiser starts at 8:30 am at the winter Dane County Farmers' Market in the Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin Street. Meals are $12 per person and all proceeds benefit REAP's Chef in the Classroom program. Community members are welcome to come for breakfast, and support local producers by visiting the indoor winter farmers' market.