Laconia Middle School students host five-course dinner for educators

LACONIA — The Family and Consumer Science students at Laconia Middle School recently traded their textbooks for kitchen tools to execute a five-course meal for members of the Delta Kappa Gamma, an international professional honor society for women educators.

The formal dinner, held on Nov. 13, was a hands-on learning experience that went far beyond basic cooking. Students were responsible for creating every dish completely from scratch while also mastering the finer points of hospitality.  They volunteered for three days after school to make this dinner a success. 

“This was such an incredible evening for both students and members of Delta Kappa Gamma.  Students were so proud of the food that they created and you could see it from the smiles on their faces.  This experience gave students an opportunity to learn how to give back to the community and understand what it means to be an active citizen,” said Tiffany Dube, teacher of FCS.

The evening began with students greeting members and taking their coats. Members then engaged in a mingling session where they were served a specially-prepared “mocktail” punch by the students. Once seated, the young chefs stepped into serving roles, mastering the etiquette of formal table settings while taking dinner orders from their guests.

The five-course menu showcased the students’ diverse skills. The first course was fresh carrot and ginger soup; the second was mixed green salad with beets and artichoke hearts; a main course of butternut squash stuffed with lentil filling, homemade mac’n’cheese, and spiral ham; and a dessert of warm blueberry cobbler and coconut cake.

Students worked diligently to provide gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to ensure every guest was accommodated, demonstrating a high level of professionalism.

The FACS class is already looking forward to their next big project. Inspired by the success of the DKG dinner, the students are planning to host another formal meal in the spring for school board members and administrators.

For more information, contact tdube@laconiaschools.org.